The Lancet, 3 we described how BenevolentAI's proprietary artificial intelligence (AI)-derived
knowledge graph, 4 queried by a suite of algorithms, enabled identification of a target and a
potential therapeutic against SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2; the causative organism in
COVID-19). We identified a group of approved drugs that could inhibit clathrin-mediated
endocytosis and thereby inhibit viral infection of cells (appendix). The drug targets are
members of the numb-associated kinase (NAK) family—including AAK1 and GAK—the …

The high affinity of baricitinib for the numb-associated kinase (NAK) family, its
antiinflammatory properties, with its advantageous pharmacokinetic properties, appear to
make it a special case among the approved drugs. In addition, the potential for combination
therapy with baracitinib is high, because of its low plasma protein binding and minimal
interaction with CYP enzymes and drug transporters. Combinations of baricitinib with these
direct-acting antivirals could reduce viral infectivity, viral replication, and the aberrant host …