Umifenovir | Broad-spectrum antiviral

Umifenovir (131707-23-8) is a broad-spectrum antiviral medication.¹ It has shown activity against influenza A,B,and C, respiratory syncytial, SARS-CoV, adeno, parainfluenza type 5, polio, rhino, coxsackie, hanta, chikungungya, hepatitis B and C viruses.^2,3 It blocks hemagglutinin-mediated membrane fusion of influenza virus particles.2 Umifenovir has recently been shown to inhibit SARS-CoV2 infection by blocking virus entry as well as release from endolysosomes during intracellular trafficking.⁵ It has been suggested that Umifenovir may block trimerization of the spike glycoprotein, a key step in host cell adhesion.⁶

References/Citations
1) Blasing et al. (2014), Arbidol as a broad-spectrum antiviral: an update; Antiviral Res, 107 84
2) Boriskin et al. (2008) Arbidol: a broad-spectrum antiviral compound that blocks viral fusion; Curr. Meed. Chem., 15 997
3) Brooks et al. (2012) Antiviral activity of Arbidol, a broad-spectrum drug for use against respiratory viruses, varies according to test conditions; J. Med. Virol., 84 170
4) Leneva et al. (2009) Characteristics of Arbidol-resistant mutants of influenza virus: Implications for the mechanism of anti-influenza action of arbidol; Antiviral Res., 81 132
5) Wang et al. (2020) The anti-influenza drug, arbidol, is an efficient inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro; Cell Discov., 6 28
6) Vankadari (2020) Arbidol: A Potential Antiviral Drug for the Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 by Blocking Trimerization of the Spike Glycoprotein; Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents, 105998