1. COVID-19 Drug Discovery Using Intensive Approaches.
- Author
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Asai A, Konno M, Ozaki M, Otsuka C, Vecchione A, Arai T, Kitagawa T, Ofusa K, Yabumoto M, Hirotsu T, Taniguchi M, Eguchi H, Doki Y, and Ishii H
- Subjects
- COVID-19, China, Drug Discovery, Humans, Pandemics, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 Drug Treatment, Antiviral Agents chemistry, Antiviral Agents therapeutic use, Betacoronavirus, Coronavirus Infections drug therapy, Pneumonia, Viral drug therapy
- Abstract
Since the infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was reported in China during December 2019, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread on a global scale, causing the World Health Organization (WHO) to issue a warning. While novel vaccines and drugs that target SARS-CoV-2 are under development, this review provides information on therapeutics which are under clinical trials or are proposed to antagonize SARS-CoV-2. Based on the information gained from the responses to other RNA coronaviruses, including the strains that cause severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-coronaviruses and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), drug repurposing might be a viable strategy. Since several antiviral therapies can inhibit viral replication cycles or relieve symptoms, mechanisms unique to RNA viruses will be important for the clinical development of antivirals against SARS-CoV-2. Given that several currently marketed drugs may be efficient therapeutic agents for severe COVID-19 cases, they may be beneficial for future viral pandemics and other infections caused by RNA viruses when standard treatments are unavailable.
- Published
- 2020
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