COVID-19 Drug Discovery Using Intensive Approaches

COVID-19 Drug Discovery Using Intensive Approaches

Ayumu Asai, Masamitsu Konno, Miyuki Ozaki, Chihiro Otsuka, Andrea Vecchione, Takahiro Arai, Toru Kitagawa, Ken Ofusa, Masami Yabumoto, Takaaki Hirotsu, Masateru Taniguchi, Hidetoshi Eguchi, Yuichiro Doki, Hideshi Ishii

Since the infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was reported in China during December 2019, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread on a global scale, causing the World Health Organization (WHO) to issue a warning. While novel vaccines and drugs that target SARS-CoV-2 are under development, this review provides information on therapeutics which are under clinical trials or are proposed to antagonize SARS-CoV-2. Based on the information gained from the responses to other RNA coronaviruses, including the strains that cause severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-coronaviruses and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), drug repurposing might be a viable strategy. Since several antiviral therapies can inhibit viral replication cycles or relieve symptoms, mechanisms unique to RNA viruses will be important for the clinical development of antivirals against SARS-CoV-2. Given that several currently marketed drugs may be efficient therapeutic agents for severe COVID-19 cases, they may be beneficial for future viral pandemics and other infections caused by RNA viruses when standard treatments are unavailable.

2020

COVID-19, coronavirus, infection, drug discovery, Drug repositioning

DOI: 10.3390/ijms21082839

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

MDPI AG

Biology (General), Chemistry

EN