Papain‐like protease (PLpro), and, predominantly, Mpro are required for the proteolytic cleavage of polyproteins produced by the virus. Together they produce 16 nsp that are involved in viral replication and transcription. 122  PLpro is responsible for cleavage at the first three positions of its polyprotein to produce three nsp, while Mpro cleaves at no less than 11 conserved sites, releasing nsp4 to nsp16. Mpro‐mediated cleavage generates functional proteins like RdRP, RNA binding proteins, exoribonuclease, helicase, and methyltransferase. 123  The indispensable role of Mpro for the viral life cycle and infection process makes Mpro an ideal target for anti‐coronaviral therapy.