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Potential Prophylactic Treatments for COVID-19.
Noam Ben-Zuk1, Ido-David Dechtman2,3, Itai Henn1
1Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Division, Ministry of Defense, HaKirya, Tel-Aviv 61909, Israel.
Viruses
|August 10, 2021
Summary
This review examines small-molecule drugs for preventing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). It identifies potential prophylactic medications, including antivirals and repurposed drugs, to address limited vaccine availability.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
Background:
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes COVID-19, a global pandemic with varying disease severity.
- Limited worldwide vaccine availability necessitates additional countermeasures against SARS-CoV-2.
- Small-molecule drugs offer potential for accessible, safe, scalable, and affordable COVID-19 prophylaxis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and categorize potential small-molecule prophylactic drugs for COVID-19.
- To consolidate a list of candidate medications, including antivirals, repurposed drugs, and miscellaneous agents.
- To provide a molecular/clinical background, safety profile, and current research status for each drug.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive screening of clinical trials for relevant small-molecule candidates.
- Categorization of drugs into antivirals, repurposed drugs, or miscellaneous.
- Review of molecular/clinical background, safety, and COVID-19 relevance for each drug.
Main Results:
- Identified and categorized various small-molecule candidates for COVID-19 prophylaxis.
- Provided rationales for prophylactic use, discussing antiviral or anti-inflammatory mechanisms.
- Reviewed drug safety profiles, current indications, and research status for COVID-19.
Conclusions:
- Small-molecule drugs are crucial for accessible COVID-19 prophylaxis due to limited vaccine availability.
- Further research and clinical data are expected to clarify the efficacy of these prophylactic treatments.
- This review consolidates information on potential drug candidates, aiding future research and countermeasure development.
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