Reports from Guangdong Pharmaceutical University Add New Data to Research in Zika Virus (Dapoxetine, a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor, Suppresses Zika Virus Infection In Vitro).

A recent study conducted by researchers at Guangdong Pharmaceutical University in China has identified dapoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) commonly used to treat premature ejaculation, as a potential inhibitor of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection. The researchers screened a library of FDA-approved drugs and found that dapoxetine exhibited anti-ZIKV effects by inhibiting the activity of the virus's RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. The study suggests that dapoxetine could be a potential candidate for clinical therapeutic intervention against ZIKV infection. Further research is needed to explore its efficacy in vivo. [Extracted from the article]