Vidofludimus (IMU-838) is a selective and potent second-generation dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitor with IC50 of 160 nM, shows anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity with EC50 of 7.6 uM in Vero cells.
Vidofludimus inhibits T cell proliferation with EC50 of 11.8 uM, with a similar effect on CpG ODN 2006-PTO dependent B cell proliferation.
Vidofludimus is specific for human DHODH and does not have off-target effect on kinases, is about 7.5-fold and about 64.4-fold more active on human DHODH as compared to rat DHODH and mouse DHODH, respectively.
Vidofludimus inhibits specifically IL–17F, IL–17A and IFN-g expression in PBMCs.
Vidofludimus is 2.6 times more potent in inhibiting DHO oxidation by human DHODH compared to teriflunomide (IC50=420 nM).
Vidofludimus shows inhibition of rat EAE motor signs in a rat experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model.
Vidofludimus exerts a broad-spectrum activity against a selection of major human pathogenic viruses.