Fullerene derivatives as inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease.

COVID-19 is an ongoing worldwide pandemic. Even today, there is a need for the development of effective therapeutic agents. SARS-CoV-2 is known as the causative virus of COVID-19, and its main protease is one of the enzymes essential for its growth and is considered a drug discovery target. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory activities of a variety of fullerene derivatives, including newly synthesized derivatives, against the main protease of SARS-CoV-2. As a result, the malonic acid-type fullerene derivatives showed the strongest inhibitory activity.