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Novel coronavirus treatment with ribavirin: Groundwork for an evaluation concerning COVID-19

Jahan S Khalili1, Hai Zhu1, Nga Sze Amanda Mak1

  • 1SystImmune Inc, Redmond, Washington.

Journal of Medical Virology
|April 1, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Global drug access is crucial for antiviral therapy testing during outbreaks like COVID-19. Ribavirin, an accessible antiviral, shows promise for treating novel coronavirus infections and warrants further controlled studies.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • COVID-19 outbreaks highlight challenges in antiviral therapy testing during emergencies.
  • Access to existing antiviral drugs with reliable supply chains is critical for novel coronavirus infections.
  • Previous research on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) provides insights into potency enhancement strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To emphasize the importance of global drug access in antiviral therapy for novel coronaviruses.
  • To explore the potential of ribavirin as a priority therapeutic agent for COVID-19 and emergent variants.
  • To advocate for controlled studies to rigorously evaluate ribavirin's efficacy and address existing controversies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of in vitro antiviral activity of ribavirin against 2019-nCoV.
  • Examination of potency enhancement strategies from prior SARS and MERS outbreaks.
  • Proposal for controlled clinical trials to assess ribavirin's impact on COVID-19 outbreaks.

Main Results:

  • Ribavirin demonstrates direct antiviral activity against 2019-nCoV in vitro.
  • Potency enhancement strategies from previous outbreaks may improve ribavirin's effectiveness.
  • Controlled testing can provide scientific rigor to evaluate ribavirin's role in COVID-19 treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Ribavirin's established inventory and supply chain make it a viable consideration for COVID-19 therapy.
  • Further research and controlled trials are essential to confirm ribavirin's efficacy and optimize its use.
  • Addressing the controversy surrounding ribavirin through rigorous scientific testing is necessary.
Keywords:
COVID-19novel coronavirusribavirin

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