Overview:

**COVID-19 RELATION**
Mycophenolic acid (MPA), an immunosuppressant, is an uncompetitive and reversible inhibitor of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH). The immunomodulator has been actively studied for its in vitro antiviral potency against a broad family of viruses including seasonal influenza and MERS and has shown a positive effect on improving the state of patients suffering from severe pneumonia caused by these viruses. As a potent IMPDH inhibitor, scientists are studying its antiviral role against the SARS-COV-2 virus, as studies suggest that the novel virus interacts with cellular IMPDH2 utilizing the Nsp14 viral protein.**

Immunomodulator (1). Blocks the biosynthesis of guanine nucleotides via inhibition of inosine 5’-monophosphate dehydrogenase which suppresses the production of proinflammatory cytokines, nitric oxide and LDH in macrophages (2,3). Inhibits IL-2-dependent T cell proliferation (4).

References:

1. EM Eugui et al. Scand. J. Immunol. 1991 33:161

2. CA Jonsson et al. Cell. Immunol. 2002 216:93

3. AC Allison et al. Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 1993 696:63

4. J Quemeneur et al. J. Immunol. 2002 169:2747