Second Life for Antivirals: Computational Docking Screens FDA-Approved Drugs against SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid therapeutic solutions, leading to drug repurposing as a key strategy.SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M pro ) is a critical viral replication enzyme and a prime drug target.This study synthesizes computational docking studies screening FDA-approved drugs against M pro , highlighting promising candidates, methodological strengths, and translational challenges.Emphasis is placed on integrating computational predictions with experimental validation to accelerate antiviral discovery.Key findings underscore the potential of drugs like lopinavir, ritonavir, and non-antivirals (e.g., ebselen) as M pro inhibitors, while addressing limitations in scoring accuracy and clinical translatability.