SARS-CoV-2 Antiviral Therapy

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Pharmacology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Effective antiviral therapy for COVID-19 remains critical, especially for unvaccinated individuals and those with suboptimal vaccine responses.
• The rapid emergence of SARS-CoV-2 necessitated urgent development of therapeutic interventions.
• A comprehensive understanding of antiviral drug development is essential for managing the ongoing pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize one year of progress in the development of antiviral therapies for COVID-19.
• To review preclinical and clinical research on antiviral compounds targeting SARS-CoV-2.
• To highlight compounds in or prioritized for clinical development.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of preclinical and clinical research on COVID-19 antiviral therapies.
• Categorization of antiviral compounds based on their mechanism of action against SARS-CoV-2.
• Emphasis on compounds in clinical development or of high clinical priority.

Main Results:

• Progress has been made in developing antivirals targeting SARS-CoV-2 enzymes (polymerase, proteases).
• Inhibitors of virus entry, including monoclonal antibodies, have shown promise.
• Repurposed drugs and interferons are also being investigated for their antiviral effects.
• Research spans diverse strategies, including targeting viral replication and host-cell interactions.

Conclusions:

• Significant advancements have been achieved in COVID-19 antiviral drug development within one year.
• Lessons learned from SARS-CoV-2 drug development can inform future antiviral research.
• Challenges remain in continued progress, necessitating ongoing research and clinical evaluation.