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Updated: Oct 10, 2025

Early Viral Entry Assays for the Identification and Evaluation of Antiviral Compounds
Published on: October 29, 2015
Scoping insight on antiviral drugs against COVID-19
Ahmed S Ali1,2, Ibrahim M Ibrahim1, Abdulhadi S Burzangi1
1Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Background:
COVID-19 is an ongoing viral pandemic produced by SARS-CoV-2. In light of in vitro efficacy, several medications were repurposed for its management. During clinical use, many of these medications produced inconsistent results or had varying limitations.
Objective:
The purpose of this literature review is to explain the variable efficacy or limitations of Lopinavir/Ritonavir, Remdesivir, Hydroxychloroquine, and Favipiravir in clinical settings.
Method:
A study of the literature on the pharmacodynamics (PD), pharmacokinetics (PK), safety profile, and clinical trials through academic databases using relevant search terms.
Results & Discussion:
The efficacy of an antiviral drug against COVID-19 is associated with its ability to achieve therapeutic concentration in the lung and intestinal tissues. This efficacy depends on the PK properties, particularly protein binding, volume of distribution, and half-life. The PK and PD of the model drugs need to be integrated to predict their limitations.
Conclusion:
Current antiviral drugs have varying pharmacological constraints that may associate with limited efficacy, especially in severe COVID-19 patients, or safety concerns.
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