A Microscopy-Based Small Molecule Screen in Primary Neurons Reveals Neuroprotective Properties of the FDA-Approved Anti-Viral Drug Elvitegravir

In the 2020 study by Merz et al., researchers screened 146 natural products and 424 FDA-approved drugs to find compounds that could protect neurons from glutamate toxicity, a factor in neurodegenerative diseases. They discovered that the FDA-approved anti-viral drug Elvitegravir has neuroprotective properties. Elvitegravir, along with Dutasteride and Oxybutynin, was shown to protect mitochondrial membrane potential from NMDA-induced breakdown. The study found that Elvitegravir does not act at the NMDA receptor or affect glutamatergic synapse function, suggesting it works downstream of the NMDA receptor. The study concluded that Elvitegravir has potential as a therapeutic agent for conditions involving glutamate toxicity. However, the document did not specify the number of neurons or experiments conducted.