Available Compounds With Therapeutic Potential Against COVID-19: Antimicrobial Therapies, Supportive Care, and

Rajnish Kumar1, Janmejai Kumar Srivastava1, Rachana Singh1

  • 1Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Campus, Lucknow, India.

Frontiers in Pharmacology
|October 30, 2020
PubMed

Insights

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitates exploring alternative therapeutics. This review examines existing antimicrobial drugs, supportive care, and potential vaccines for treating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Virology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, highlights the urgent need for effective treatments.
  • Existing therapeutics for SARS-CoV-2 are limited, necessitating exploration of repurposed drugs and supportive care.
  • Previous coronaviruses like SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV offer insights into potential treatments for SARS-CoV-2.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review available antimicrobial drugs and supportive therapies for COVID-19 management.
  • To identify potential therapeutic agents based on activity against related coronaviruses.
  • To discuss the importance of vaccines in the context of COVID-19 treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of antimicrobial drugs and supportive therapies for COVID-19.
  • Analysis of drug efficacy based on previous outbreaks of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV.
  • Identification of potential vaccine candidates and their relevance to COVID-19 treatment.

Main Results:

  • No established drug regimen currently exists for COVID-19.
  • Repurposed drugs and supportive care show promise, especially when initiated early.
  • Careful patient monitoring and judicious drug combination selection are crucial.

Conclusions:

  • Antimicrobial and supportive therapies are vital during the COVID-19 emergency.
  • Further research and clinical trials are needed to establish definitive treatment protocols.
  • Vaccine development remains a high priority for long-term COVID-19 control.

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