ABSTRACT
The recent coronavirus outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 has spread worldwide, causing serious socioeconomical disruption. Due to the urgency of the situation, various research strategies are ongoing, in order to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of repurposed and experimental drugs, as there are neither prophylactic nor therapeutic treatments available. The present review provides a brief account of the COVID-19 disease and the reproductive cycle of SARS-CoV-2 with host proteins. Moreover, it apposes drugs/bioactive substances and their targets, that are being or may be used for the treatment of COVID 19. These include different therapeutic classes, such as ACE2 inhibitors, TMPRSS2 and CD147 inhibitors, antivirals, cardioprotective agents and anti inflammatory drugs. Therapeutic perspectives of the various vaccines and diagnostic tests that are being developed are also discussed.