Molecular model of the transmembrane receptor neuropilin-1 (NRP1) (red, pink and maroon). NRP1 has been shown to bind to the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and facilitate its entry into host cells. It is therefore a drug target for treating the new virus. NRP1 is found in the respiratory and olfactory epithelium. SARS-CoV-2 causes a respiratory infection (Covid-19) that can lead to fatal pneumonia. The virus emerged in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and spread worldwide infecting millions of people and causing hundreds of thousands of deaths.