Emerging therapeutics for the management of COVID 19

ABSTRACT

Introduction

The coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) disease pandemic can be characterized as the most critical and changeable hazard to healthcare systems in eras. The high fatality rate associated with coronavirus infection underlines the urgent need for an effective treatment to reduce disease severity and mortality.

Areas covered

A detailed search for treatments related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV2) was carried out using PubMed. Components of the virus relevant to the infectious mechanism were identified. We have highlighted all the latest emerging and repurposed drugs that were found to be active against this novel coronavirus and classified these drugs according to their category. Different drug targets are discussed in order to identify new molecules or new combinations as candidates to manage SARS-CoV2/COVID-19 infections.

Expert opinion

The development of novel molecules and vaccines has been a challenge during this urgent crisis. Nucleoside analogs and IL-6 receptor antagonists have been identified as the best candidates for treatment of this disease. Multi-drug therapy by targeting different pathways will need to be corroborated and then confirmed through clinical trials. Until a vaccine is available, an alternative drug regimen needs to be adopted by clinicians in the management of coronavirus symptoms.

KEYWORDS:

• SARS-CoV-2
• Covid-19
• structure
• therapeutics
• vaccine
• drugs

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.