Decoding the silent walk of COVID-19: Halting its spread using old bullets

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Immunology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to widespread organ dysfunction.
• The COVID-19 pandemic presents significant challenges in therapeutic management and critical care due to rapid spread and high mortality.
• Understanding SARS-CoV-2's structure and proteome is crucial for identifying effective therapeutic targets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review plausible therapeutic targets for inhibiting the SARS-CoV-2 lifecycle.
• To address the role of specific agents like remdesivir, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, noscapine, and heparin in combating SARS-CoV-2 infection.
• To summarize the importance of vitamin C and D supplements as adjunct therapies in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of preclinical and clinical studies on SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics.
• Analysis of viral structure, genome, and proteome to identify drug targets.
• Evaluation of existing and investigational therapeutic agents, including repurposed drugs and supplements.

Main Results:

• Several therapeutic agents, including remdesivir (RMD), chloroquine (CQ), hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), noscapine (NOS), and heparin, show promise.
• Remdesivir has received USFDA approval for COVID-19 management.
• Ongoing research focuses on identifying optimal treatments and understanding the role of vitamins C and D.

Conclusions:

• Identifying effective therapeutic targets is critical for managing SARS-CoV-2 infection.
• A combination of antiviral agents and supportive therapies, potentially including vitamins C and D, may be key to combating COVID-19.
• Continued research into novel and repurposed drugs is essential for global health security.