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Interferon-inducer antivirals: Potential candidates to combat COVID-19
Ashkan Bagheri1, Seyed Mohammad Iman Moezzi1, Pouria Mosaddeghi1
1Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Cellular and Molecular Medicine Student Research Group, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
International Immunopharmacology
|December 21, 2020
Summary
Drug repurposing offers hope for COVID-19 treatment by identifying antivirals that boost interferon responses. Further studies are needed to evaluate their safety and efficacy against SARS-CoV-2.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, lacks a definitive cure, necessitating urgent therapeutic strategies.
- Drug repurposing is a viable approach to accelerate the discovery of effective COVID-19 treatments.
- Type I interferons play a crucial role in the immune response against SARS-CoV-2.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify existing antiviral drugs that can induce type I interferons, potentially offering a new treatment avenue for COVID-19.
- To explore the relevance of various drug categories, including antibiotics, immunosuppressants, and NSAIDs, for their interferon-modulating capabilities against SARS-CoV-2.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the 'drugvirus' database to screen antiviral agents.
- Investigated the potential of these agents to induce interferon signaling pathways.
- Examined a diverse list of drugs, including antibiotics, immunosuppressants, anti-cancer agents, NSAIDs, and calcium channel blockers.
Main Results:
- Identified several antiviral agents with potential relevance to interferon induction.
- The study highlights various drug classes, such as NSAIDs and immunosuppressants, as candidates for further investigation.
- Drug repurposing may yield candidates with synergistic effects against SARS-CoV-2 through combined antiviral and IFN-modifying mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- Drug repurposing, particularly focusing on interferon induction, presents a promising strategy for COVID-19 treatment.
- Further rigorous studies are essential to assess the benefits and risks of identified drug candidates.
- Understanding drug mechanisms and structures could guide the development of novel therapeutics for future viral threats.
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