Main protease mutants of SARS-CoV-2 variants remain susceptible to nirmatrelvir

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a public health threat. Multiple mutations in the spike protein of emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 appear to impact on the effectiveness of available vaccines. Specific antiviral agents are keenly anticipated but their efficacy may also be compromised in emerging variants. One of the most attractive coronaviral drug targets is the main protease (M-pro). A promising M-pro inhibitor of clinical relevance is the peptidomimetic nirmatrelvir (PF-07321332). We expressed M-pro of six SARS-CoV-2 lineages (C.37 Lambda, B.1.1.318, B.1.2, B.1.351 Beta, B.1.1.529 Omicron, P.2 Zeta), each of which carries a strongly prevalent missense mutation (G15S, T21I, L89F, K90R, P132H, L205V). Enzyme kinetics reveal that these M-pro variants are catalytically competent to a similar degree as the wildtype. We show that nirmatrelvir has similar potency against the variants as the wildtype. Our in vitro data suggest that the efficacy of the specific M-pro inhibitor nirmatrelvir is not compromised in current COVID-19 variants.

Automated summary

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a threat to public health, with emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 potentially impacting the effectiveness of available vaccines. However, research suggests that the specific M-pro inhibitor nirmatrelvir remains effective against these variants.