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Are statins beneficial for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection?

Auda Fares1, Dieter Borrmann1, Julius R Ivester2

  • 1St. Willibrord- Spital Emmerich-Rees Hospital, Acute Geriatrics Medicine and Rehabilitation, Emmerich am Rhein/ Germany.

Journal of Infection Prevention
|July 23, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Statins, cholesterol-lowering drugs, show potential for treating COVID-19 by inhibiting viral entry and reducing inflammation. Further clinical trials are needed to confirm their effectiveness and safety in SARS-CoV-2 patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • COVID-19 is a significant global health concern with no specific antiviral treatments.
  • Statins are known to inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis, a process crucial for enveloped virus replication.
  • Cholesterol plays a role in the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle, including viral entry and budding.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential therapeutic benefits of statins in managing SARS-CoV-2 infections.
  • To review the antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties of statins relevant to COVID-19.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing studies on statins and viral infections.
  • Analysis of the role of cholesterol in coronavirus pathogenesis.
  • Examination of the known pharmacological effects of statins.

Main Results:

  • Statins may inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication by interfering with cholesterol metabolism.
  • Statins possess anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects beneficial in viral infections.
  • Statins can promote hemodynamic stability, potentially aiding COVID-19 patients.

Conclusions:

  • Statins, due to their antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, are potential candidates for SARS-CoV-2 therapy.
  • Further large-scale randomized trials are essential to validate the efficacy and safety of statins in COVID-19 treatment.

Keywords:
COVID-19SARS-CoV-2statins

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