Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health (Jan 2021)

Antivirals for COVID-19: A critical review

  • Andri Frediansyah,
  • Ruchi Tiwari,
  • Khan Sharun,
  • Kuldeep Dhama,
  • Harapan Harapan

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9
pp. 90 – 98

Abstract

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No specific drugs have been approved for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to date as the development of antivirals usually requires time. Therefore, assessment and use of currently available antiviral drugs is critical for a timely response to the current pandemic. Here, we have reviewed anti-SARS-CoV-2 potencies of available antiviral drug groups such as fusion inhibitors, protease inhibitors, neuraminidase inhibitors, and M2 ion-channel protein blockers. Although clinical trials to assess the efficacy of these antivirals are ongoing, this review highlights important information including docking and modeling analyses, in vitro studies, as well as results from clinical uses of these antivirals against COVID-19 pandemic.

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