The 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

On the origins of SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors

“…Alter, Michael Houghton and Charles M. Rice, the quest to first characterize and then discover treatments against hepatitis C infection has been a 30 year-long story. 136 Indeed, medicinal chemistry research on the inhibition of a number of viral proteins of hepatitis C virus has today delivered treatment efficacies nearing 95% cure! 137 Since the late 90s, many laboratories have focused on the design of covalent or non-covalent inhibitors of the hepatitis C serine protease NS3/4A.…”

Expedient Synthesis of gem-CF2-2H-Thiophenes from Enaminothiones

“…Fluorinated heterocyclic compounds represent a significant class of organic compounds that are widely found in agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and materials science. 1 2 3 4 5 For instance, they exhibit outstanding pharmacological activities such as anticancer, antiviral, and antibacterial properties since fluorine atoms are believed to enhance the stability and bioavailability of druglike molecules. 6–10 Despite several strategies have been disclosed in recent years to synthesize heterocycles with installing fluorine atoms in the core rings, 11–14 Wan and Song groups independently developed a distinguished method to construct gem -CF 2 -2 H -furans from enaminones and CF 2 carbene precursors.…”

Anno 2021: Which antivirals for the coming decade?

“…In addition, the beneficial clinical effects of DAAs has led to a significant reduction in the waitlist for liver transplant due to chronic HCV infection, while increasing the survival of patients with HCV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma. 193 …”