2021 Sinica Open House Activity

Since the first cases reported at the end of 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has become a global pandemic infecting more than 0.2 billion people and killing more than 4 million patients as of August 2021. Even after launch of vaccination program, the number of people infected is still rising. The infected people are currently receiving Remdesivir for severe illness, but the therapeutic effect is still limited. Pfizer and Merck Pharmaceuticals have conducted small-molecule drug clinical trials. Scientists all over the world are still trying to find effective and safe drugs. We established several assaying platforms to screen anti-SARS-CoV-2 compounds. This lecture will cover the current progress of our and global efforts for COVID-19 drug discovery.