Current treatment strategies for COVID‑19 (Review)

Abstract

The spread of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged suddenly at the end of 2019 and the disease came to be known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). To date, there is no specific therapy established to treat COVID-19. Identifying effective treatments is urgently required to treat patients and stop the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in humans. For the present review, >100 publications on therapeutic agents for COVID-19, including in vitro and in vivo animal studies, case reports, retrospective analyses and meta-analyses were retrieved from PubMed and analyzed, and promising therapeutic agents that may be used to combat SARS-CoV-2 infection were highlighted. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, different drugs have been repurposed for its treatment. Existing drugs, including chloroquine (CQ), its derivative hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), remdesivir and nucleoside analogues, monoclonal antibodies, convalescent plasma, Chinese herbal medicine and natural compounds for treating COVID-19 evaluated in experimental and clinical studies were discussed. Although early clinical studies suggested that CQ/HCQ produces antiviral action, later research indicated certain controversy regarding their use for treating COVID-19. The molecular mechanisms of these therapeutic agents against SARS-CoV2 have been investigated, including inhibition of viral interactions with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors in human cells, viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, RNA replication and the packaging of viral particles. Potent therapeutic options were reviewed and future challenges to accelerate the development of novel therapeutic agents to treat and prevent COVID-19 were acknowledged. Contents 1. Introduction: Identification of the COVID-19 pandemic 2. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine 3. Remdesivir and other nucleoside analogues 4. Antibody-based therapy for COVID-19 5. Chinese herbal medicine for treating SARS-CoV-2 infection 6. Other options for treating COVID-19 7. Antiviral mechanisms of therapeutic agents against SARS-CoV2 8. Conclusions and future perspectives

Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir and Molnupiravir in the Treatment of Mild/Moderate COVID-19: Results of a Real-Life Study

“…In late 2019 in Wuhan, China, the first instances of COVID-19 were discovered [ 2 ], and the virus quickly spread around the globe [ 3 ], causing more than 500 million infections and 6 million fatalities to date [ 4 ]. Antivirals against SARS-CoV-2 work by inhibiting viral replication and prevent, in most cases, the deterioration of patients toward a severe form of the disease [ 5 ]. Several antivirals active against COVID-19 are currently available.…”

Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and molnuipiravir in the treatment of mild/moderate COVID-19: results of a real-life study

“…In late 2019 in Wuhan, China, the first instances of Covid-19 were discovered (2), and the virus quickly spread around the globe (3) causing more than 500 million infections and 6 million fatalities to date (4). Antivirals against SARS-CoV-2 work by inhibiting viral replication and prevent, in most cases, deterioration of patients towards a severe form of the disease (5). Several antivirals active against COVID-19 are currently available.…”

“…Antivirals against SARS-CoV-2 work by inhibiting viral replication and prevent, in most cases, deterioration of patients towards a severe form of the disease (5).…”

Drug repurposing for identification of potential spike inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations

“…Several other drugs such as chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, remdesivir, galidesivir and others were also considered for potential treatment of COVID-19 patients [31] . Other therapeutic strategies involved the use of monoclonal antibodies or patient-derived plasma [32] . However, to date no definite treatment has been established, although only very recently the combination of the antiviral drugs nirmatrelvir and ritonavir has been approved for treatment of mild and moderate cases of COVID-19 in the US (https://fda.gov).…”