# Remdesivir-bisPropionate, a better derivative of remdesivir against SARS-CoV-2: Comparison of in vitro and in vivo PK/PD Study as well as its therapeutic potential

## TL;DR

Researchers developed a more stable and effective version of remdesivir, called remdesivir-bisPropionate, which shows better antiviral activity in models.

## Contribution

The novel remdesivir derivative, remdesivir-bisPropionate, is shown to be more stable and effective than existing forms.

## Key findings

- Remdesivir-bisPropionate is more stable in vivo than remdesivir alone.
- Encapsulation in biopolymer NV387 further enhances the stability of remdesivir-bisPropionate.
- Remdesivir-bisPropionate shows increased antiviral activity against NL-63 infection in a rat model.

## Abstract

FDA approved remdesivir, which was though very effective against SARS-corona virus in cell culture system but in human its efficacy was below 10%, as reported. The main reasons are due to the poor stability of remdesivir in presence plasma. In order to increase the protective strength of remdesivir we took couple of approaches, one, to make an alternative but better derivative of remdesivir as remdesivir bis-propionate, and the other is to use our platform- designed biopolymer (NV387) to protect remdesivir compound from degradation in presence of plasma. Here we present our results as: (1) Remdesivir-bP is much more stable in vivo compared to remdesivir alone. (2) Remdesivir-bP when encapsulated within biopolymer, NV387, its stability is further enhanced. (3) The antiviral activity is also increased against NL-63 infection to rat model, compared to naked and/or encapsulated remdesivir. (4) The antiviral efficacy of the remdesivir pro-drug, therefore, can be mathematically drawn as follows: remdesivir-bP-encapsulated > remdesivir-encapsulated > remdesivir-bP > remdesivir.