Overview:

**COVID-19 RELATION**Camostate mesylate is a potent serine protease inhibitor used as a possible treatment against some cancers, minor viral infections, and pancreatitis. SARS-COV-2 depends on a key human transmembrane serine protease enzyme TMPRSS2 for cell entry. Camostat, a known inhibitor of TMPRSS2 has been observed to control infection of the lung cells by blocking the MERS-S, SARS-S and SRAS-2-S entry by selectively inhibiting the TMPRSS2 protein, hence halting the Viral S-TMPRSS2 fusion, which is pivotal for the virus to enter the cells.**A serine protease inhibitor inhibiting plasmin, kallikrein, thrombin as well as trypsin, which attenuates pancreatic fibrosis (1).Reduces weight gain and improves metabol-ism in obese rodent models (2). In clinical use (in Japan) for pancreatitis (3). Inhibits influenza virus replication in human tracheal epithelial cells (4). Reduces infection of Calu-3 lung cells by SARS-CoV-2 (responsible for COVID-19) via inhibition of the serine protease TMPRSS2 required for viral spike protein priming (5).

References:

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