OXYSTEROL FOR THE USE IN THE TREATMENT AND THE PREVENTION OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASES

Coronaviruses (CoV) belong to a large family (Coronaviridae) of coated viruses whose genome consists of RNA. They are respiratory viruses that can cause mild diseases such as the common cold or severe respiratory syndromes such as MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome), SARS (Severe acute respiratory syndrome) and COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease-19). Coronaviruses are common in many animal species and in some cases they can evolve and infect humans and then spread through the population causing new epidemics or pandemics for which it is important to be prepared by developing new broad-spectrum drugs. Aim of the present invention is therefore to provide antiviral compounds that find application in the prevention and treatment of infections caused by coronaviruses, in particular by SARS-COV2. This aim is achieved by the present invention, as it relates to the use of 27-hydroxycholesterol according to claim 1 and of compositions thereof according to claims 2 and 6.