Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.07.10.197988v1?rss=1 Authors: Catherine Z. Chen, Miao Xu, Manisha Pradhan, Kirill Gorshkov, Jennifer Petersen, Marco R. Straus, Wei Zhu, Paul Shinn, Hui Guo, Min Shen, Carleen Klumpp-Thomas, Samuel G. Michael, Joshua Zimmerberg, Wei Zheng, Gary R Whittaker Abstract: While vaccine development will hopefully quell the global pandemic of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2, small molecule drugs that can effectively control SARS-CoV-2 infection are urgently needed. Here inhibitors of two coronavirus spike proteins (S) were identified by screening a library of approved drugs with SARS-S and MERS-S pseudotyped particle entry assays. Using high-throughput screening technology, we discovered three compounds (cepharanthine, abemaciclib and trimipramine) to be broad spectrum inhibitors for spike-mediated entry. This work should contribute to the development of effective treatments against the initial stage of viral infection, thus reducing viral burden in COVID-19 patients. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info