Pharmaceutical, biological agents, and vaccines under clinical trials for COVID-19 and roles of pharmacists to combat COVID-19, an update

ABSTRACT

Due to the high mortality rate and rapid spread in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare system used various treatment options. The pathology associated with COVID-19 includes inflammatory responses which ultimately lead to multi-system organ failure or "cytokines storm". Treating COVID-19 at the initial stage of pandemic has become a challenge as there are no medications that have yet been approved by the FDA or other regulatory agencies. There are many medications have been used by the practitioners to combat the severity of the inflammatory responses. This article summarized the repurposed medications that have received attention during the COVID-19 pandemic and provided an outline of the therapeutic agents, which are under clinical trial that may be helpful to treat COVID-19. This article also emphasizes on pharmacist roles and responsibilities during disasters and pandemics and discussed various vaccines undergoing clinical trials currently. Copyright © 2022 Marmara University Press.