  The COVID-19 pandemic triggered by SARS-CoV-2 is a worldwide health disaster.
Main protease is an attractive drug target among coronaviruses, due to its
vital role in processing the polyproteins that are translated from the viral
RNA. There is presently no exact drug or treatment for this diseases caused by
SARS-CoV-2. In the present study, we report the potential inhibitory activity
of some FDA approved drugs against SARS-CoV-2 main protease by molecular
docking study to investigate their binding affinity in protease active site.
Docking studies revealed that drug Oseltamivir (anti-H1N1 drug), Rifampin
(anti-TB drug), Maraviroc, Etravirine, Indinavir, Rilpivirine (anti-HIV drugs)
and Atovaquone, Quinidine, Halofantrine, Amodiaquine, Tetracylcine,
Azithromycin, hydroxycholoroquine (anti-malarial drugs) among others binds in
the active site of the protease with similar or higher affinity. However, the
in-silico abilities of the drug molecules tested in this study, further needs
to be validated by carrying out in vitro and in vivo studies. Moreover, this
study spreads the potential use of current drugs to be considered and used to
comprise the fast expanding SARS-CoV-2 infection.
