COVID-19 and the promise of small molecule therapeutics: Are there lessons to be learnt?
Pharmacol Res
; 179: 106201, 2022 05.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1768452
ABSTRACT
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had grounded the world to a standstill. As the disease continues to rage two years on, it is apparent that effective therapeutics are critical for a successful endemic living with COVID-19. A dearth in suitable antivirals has prompted researchers and healthcare professionals to investigate existing and developmental drugs against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Although some of these drugs initially appeared to be promising for the treatment of COVID-19, they were ultimately found to be ineffective. In this review, we provide a retrospective analysis on the merits and limitations of some of these drugs that were tested against SARS-CoV-2 as well as those used for adjuvant therapy. While many of these drugs are no longer part of our arsenal for the treatment of COVID-19, important lessons can be learnt. The recent inclusion of molnupiravir and Paxlovid™ as treatment options for COVID-19 represent our best hope to date for endemic living with COVID-19. Our viewpoints on these two drugs and their prospects as current and future antiviral agents will also be provided.
Keywords
Antivirals; Baricitinib (PubChem CID: 44205240); COVID-19; Chloroquine (PubChem CID: 2719); Dexamethasone (PubChem CID: 5743); Drug discovery; Hydroxychloroquine (PubChem CID: 3652); Ivermectin (PubChem CID: 6321424); Lopinavir (PubChem CID: 92727); Molnupiravir (Pubchem CID: 145996610); Nirmatrelvir (PubChem CID: 155903259); Remdesivir (PubChem CID: 121304016); Ritonavir (PubChem CID: 392622); Small molecule therapeutics
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19 Drug Treatment
Type of study:
Observational study
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Pharmacol Res
Journal subject:
Pharmacology
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
J.phrs.2022.106201
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