Therapeutic approaches against coronaviruses acute respiratory syndrome

Pharmacol Res Perspect. 2021 Feb;9(1):e00691. doi: 10.1002/prp2.691.

Abstract

Coronaviruses represent global health threat. In this century, they have already caused two epidemics and one serious pandemic. Although, at present, there are no approved drugs and therapies for the treatment and prevention of human coronaviruses, several agents, FDA-approved, and preclinical, have shown in vitro and/or in vivo antiviral activity. An in-depth analysis of the current situation leads to the identification of several potential drugs that could have an impact on the fight against coronaviruses infections. In this review, we discuss the virology of human coronaviruses highlighting the main biological targets and summarize the current state-of-the-art of possible therapeutic options to inhibit coronaviruses infections. We mostly focus on FDA-approved and preclinical drugs targeting viral conserved elements.

Keywords: Coronaviruses; Covid-19; MERS; MERS-CoV; SARS; SARS-CoV; SARS-CoV-2; antivirals; entry inhibitors; monoclonal antibodies; nucleoside analogues; plasma therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 / metabolism*
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / metabolism
  • Antiviral Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antiviral Agents / metabolism
  • Azoles / administration & dosage
  • Azoles / metabolism
  • COVID-19 / metabolism*
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment
  • Coronavirus / drug effects
  • Coronavirus / metabolism*
  • Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy
  • Coronavirus Infections / metabolism*
  • Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 / metabolism*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Isoindoles
  • Naphthoquinones / administration & dosage
  • Naphthoquinones / metabolism
  • Organoselenium Compounds / administration & dosage
  • Organoselenium Compounds / metabolism
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / metabolism*

Substances

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Azoles
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Isoindoles
  • Naphthoquinones
  • Organoselenium Compounds
  • shikonin
  • ebselen
  • DPP4 protein, human
  • Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4
  • ACE2 protein, human
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2