BAY 11-7082: An Anti-inflammatory Drug for COVID-19

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a new coronavirus named by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. COVID-19 patients have high mortality due to respiratory failure from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) induced by SARS-CoV-2. The abnormal activation of P21-activated kinase (PAK1, RAC/CDC42-activated kinase 1) is reported in COVID-19. The PAK1 induces nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation as well as inflammatory pathways through its stimulation. BAY 11-7082 {(E) 3-[(4-methylphenyl)-sulfonyl]-2-propenenitrile is one of the therapies that inhibit inflammation via mentioned signaling pathway, therefore, we suggest that this drug can potentially be effective in treating COVID-19.