As far as the development of new therapeutics against SARS‐ and MERS‐CoV infection is concerned, efforts have mainly focused on protease inhibitors. These enzymes are highly attractive drug targets because they are so essential to the virus. Peptides, peptidomimetics, and even small molecules can inhibit them, which leads to markedly reduced viral transmission and pathogenicity. Although most of the reported molecules display only weak anti‐CoV activity, several of studies elucidated structure–activity relationships that can be used to further improve their activity. 100 ,  126 ,  127 ,  128