The invention relates to cyclic peptides, both monocyclic and bicyclic, designed as strong and selective furin inhibitors. Furin is a host protease essential for the maturation and replication of many viruses. These compounds block the activation of furin dependent viral proteins, inhibiting the replication cycle of Flavivirus and Herpesviridae viruses, in particular Zika virus (ZIKV) and bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV1).
The selected peptides demonstrate very high antiviral activity while maintaining low cytotoxicity. Their cyclic structure and specific sequence modifications provide stability, strong binding affinity and enhanced selectivity toward furin.
The invention covers both the peptide inhibitors and their use as new therapeutic candidates targeting pathogens strongly dependent on furin activity.
Application:
- Development of new host targeted antiviral therapeutics,
- Inhibition of ZIKV and BHV1 maturation dependent on furin cleavage,
- Use in therapies for viruses requiring furin mediated protein activation.
