BEIJING: Rolf Hilgenfeld, a German coronavirus research expert and professor at the Lubeck University, brought two inhibitors developed for severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (SARS-CoV) to China to test their effects on the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), according to China Media Group (CMG).

Hilgenfeld and his team have been devoted to the research of SARS-CoV inhibitors for many years. The inhibitor uses protease acting on the virus to prevent the protein from cracking, thus preventing the formation of the mature virus.