Finasteride Induces Epigenetic Alteration of TMPRSS2 Gene Expression: A Potential Role in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Inhibition
May 2023
TLDR Finasteride may help reduce COVID-19 infection by altering a key gene.
Recent research presented at the ASPET 2023 Annual Meeting suggests that finasteride, a type-II 5α-reductase inhibitor, may reduce the infectivity of SARS-COV-2 by inducing epigenetic changes in the TMPRss2 gene, which is crucial for viral activation and penetration. The study found that finasteride decreases TMPRss2 gene expression through DNA methylation, potentially inhibiting the viral spike priming necessary for COVID-19 infection. This discovery highlights a novel potential use for finasteride beyond its current application in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia.