UF Researchers Study Whether Approved Drugs Can Block COVID-19

A new study by University of Florida researchers aims to identify a drug or drugs that can potentially be used to prevent and/or treat infection with COVID-19 by interfering with known behavior of the virus — the way it binds to its cellular receptor, facilitating transmission to the respiratory system.

The UF team plans to screen seven over-the-counter drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration over a six-month period to assess their viability as candidates.

“Essentially, we are trying to block entry of the virus into airway cells that we culture,” said Dr. Leah Reznikov, an assistant professor of physiological sciences in the UF College of Veterinary Medicine and principal investigator on the study. Her laboratory focuses on the human airway and its response to noxious stimuli.

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