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Systematic review on current antiviral therapy in COVID-19 pandemic

R A Perveen1, M Nasir2, K A Talha3

  • 1Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Bangladesh.

The Medical Journal of Malaysia
|November 21, 2020
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

This systematic review found no antiviral therapies effective against COVID-19 among the studies examined. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to establish effective treatments for COVID-19 management.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Virology
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • COVID-19 poses a significant threat, with severe cases requiring effective treatments.
  • Existing antiviral drug research for COVID-19 has yielded limited success.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review the effectiveness of antiviral therapies for COVID-19 treatment.
  • To identify potential antiviral drugs for managing severe COVID-19 cases.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library.
  • Inclusion of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective case series.
  • Outcomes assessed included mortality, recovery, hospital stay, and clinical improvement.

Main Results:

  • Five RCTs (439 patients) and 17 case series (1656 patients) were analyzed.
  • Antiviral drugs studied included Lopinavir, Ritonavir, Remdesivir, Oseltamivir, and Ribavirin.
  • None of the evaluated antiviral therapies demonstrated significant efficacy against COVID-19.

Conclusions:

  • Current evidence does not support the recommendation of specific antiviral therapies for COVID-19.
  • There is an urgent need for more high-quality RCTs and cohort studies.
  • Further research is crucial for developing effective COVID-19 treatment guidelines.

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