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Drug Repurposing Hypothesis Generation Using the "RE:fine Drugs" System
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COVID-19: molecular targets, drug repurposing and new avenues for drug discovery

Mario Roberto Senger1, Tereza Cristina Santos Evangelista2, Rafael Ferreira Dantas1

  • 1Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Bioquímica Experimental e Computacional de Fármacos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.

Memorias Do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz
|October 7, 2020
PubMed

Insights

This review critically examines drug repurposing for COVID-19, exploring new treatment avenues based on infection mechanisms. It also assesses the feasibility of scaling up promising candidates for global demand.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, poses a significant global health threat.
  • The rapid spread of COVID-19 has strained healthcare systems worldwide.
  • Urgent need for effective treatments to manage the pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically evaluate current drug repurposing strategies for COVID-19.
  • To identify potential new therapeutic targets based on SARS-CoV-2 infection mechanisms.
  • To discuss practical considerations for drug development, including intellectual property and manufacturing.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of ongoing drug repurposing studies for COVID-19.
  • Analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 infection pathway and potential drug targets.
  • Assessment of patent protection, cost-effectiveness, and scalability for key repurposing candidates.

Main Results:

  • Overview of various drug repurposing candidates and their preclinical/clinical status.
  • Identification of promising therapeutic targets within the SARS-CoV-2 lifecycle.
  • Evaluation of the economic and logistical factors influencing the widespread availability of treatments.

Conclusions:

  • Drug repurposing offers a viable strategy for rapid COVID-19 treatment development.
  • Understanding infection mechanisms is crucial for identifying novel therapeutic targets.
  • Scalability, cost-effectiveness, and patent considerations are vital for meeting global demand.

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