The compound, named UNI418, regulates genome homeostasis and maintains a stable immune system to inhibit virus infiltration, according to the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) on Wednesday.
The findings were published online in the Nature Publishing Group's journal Experimental & Molecular Medicine on August 1.
The research team, led by Professor Myung Kyung-jae of UNIST's Department of Biomedical Engineering, found that UNI418 prevents viral entry by inhibiting proteins involved in endocytosis, the process by which viruses penetrate cells.
Unlike existing treatments that target viral proteins, this approach may be effective against variant strains and novel viruses.
"We have demonstrated the possibility of blocking viruses from the initial stage of entering the human body," said Professor Lee Joo-yong of Chungnam National University, a co-researcher in the study.
Researchers believe this discovery could lead to the development of new broad-spectrum antiviral therapies, though further studies are needed to confirm its efficacy and safety.
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