The serotonin reuptake inhibitor Fluoxetine inhibits SARS-CoV-2 in human lung tissue

Abstract To circumvent time-consuming clinical trials, testing whether existing drugs are effective inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2, has led to the discovery Remdesivir. We decided follow this path and screened approved medications "off-label" against SARS-CoV-2. Fluoxetine inhibited SARS-CoV-2 at a concentration 0.8 µg/ml significantly in these screenings, EC50 was determined with 387 ng/ml. Furthermore, reduced viral infectivity precision-cut human lung slices showing its activity relevant tissue targeted severe infections. treatment resulted decrease protein expression. is racemate consisting both stereoisomers, while S-form dominant serotonin reuptake inhibitor. found that isomers show similar on virus, indicating R-form might specifically be used for treatment. neither Rabies respiratory syncytial virus replication nor Human Herpesvirus 8 or Herpes simplex type 1 gene expression, it acts virus-specific. Moreover, since known inhibits cytokine release, we see role infected patients risk groups.