Repurposing host-based therapeutics to control coronavirus and influenza virus

Area of Science:

• Virology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Drug Discovery and Development

Background:

• Traditional antiviral drug discovery is lengthy and expensive.
• Drug repositioning leverages existing drugs for new therapeutic uses, offering efficiency.
• Host-based antiviral agents target host factors crucial for viral replication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the repurposing of clinically approved and preclinical drugs as host-based antiviral agents.
• To focus on applications against coronavirus and influenza virus infections.
• To discuss current knowledge, potential uses, and challenges in this approach.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing studies on drug repositioning for antiviral therapies.
• Analysis of host-targeting strategies for viral control.
• Examination of approved and preclinical drug candidates.

Main Results:

• Drug repositioning is a viable strategy for developing novel antiviral therapeutics.
• Host-based agents offer a promising avenue for combating viral diseases.
• Numerous drugs show potential for repurposing against coronaviruses and influenza viruses.

Conclusions:

• Repurposing established drugs is an efficient strategy to accelerate antiviral development.
• Host-targeting antivirals represent a critical approach to managing viral infections.
• Further research is needed to overcome challenges and fully realize the potential of repurposed antivirals.