In silico drug repurposing in COVID-19: A network-based analysis

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Pharmacology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic necessitates urgent development of effective COVID-19 treatments.
• Drug repurposing offers a rapid and cost-effective alternative to novel drug discovery.
• Identifying existing medications for COVID-19 treatment is a critical public health priority.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify potentially repurposable drugs for treating COVID-19 using network-based approaches.
• To analyze transcriptomic data from COVID-19 patients and related conditions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized three distinct network-based methodologies.
• Analyzed whole blood cell transcriptomic data from COVID-19 patients and individuals with 21 related conditions.
• Compared gene expression profiles against healthy subjects.

Main Results:

• Identified conventional drug classes, including anticoagulants, antihistamines, anti-TNFα antibodies, and corticosteroids.
• Discovered unconventional candidate compounds, such as SCN5A inhibitors and central nervous system-active drugs.
• Highlighted the potential of network pharmacology in drug repurposing for infectious diseases.

Conclusions:

• Network-based analysis successfully identified diverse drug candidates for COVID-19 repurposing.
• The study suggests novel therapeutic avenues beyond conventional treatments.
• Clinical validation through trials is essential before implementing identified drugs in patient care.