Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 26, 2025

Early Viral Entry Assays for the Identification and Evaluation of Antiviral Compounds
Published on: October 29, 2015
New Frontier in Antiviral Drugs for Disorders of the Respiratory System
Hai-Long Zhang1, Yong-Xia Li2, Ai-Feng Zhou2
1Central International Intellectual Property (Baotou) Co., Ltd., Baotou, China.
Background:
COVID-19 is still soaring, and the new delta COVID-19 variant is on the rise and spreading around the world.
Objective:
We conducted a patent analysis to better understand the therapeutic strategy developed for antivirals available for the disorders of the respiratory system.
Materials And Methods:
European granted patents filed from January 2002 to June 2021 were analyzed. We used a combination of International patent classification (IPC) "A61p31/12" and "A61p11/00" to search the relevant documents.
Results:
Our study showed R&D of antiviral drugs for disorders of the respiratory system to be decreasing over the past 20 years. Chemical drugs showed various chemical structures. The development of chemical drugs or herbal medicines appeared to commence earlier than the biological products. Also, the results indicated that large global companies play a leading role in developing kinase inhibitors as chemical drugs.
Conclusion:
There are three strategies for developing antiviral drugs for the disorders of the respiratory system, including chemical drugs, herbal medicines or natural products, and biological products. Herbal medicines may provide a new insight and approach to developing antiviral drugs for disorders of the respiratory system. A combination of chemical drugs and natural products may be a promising therapeutic method for treating patients with COVID- 19.
Related Concept Videos
Drugs Used in Upper Respiratory Disorders: Overview
Antihistamines (e.g., Benadryl) block histamines from binding. Histamines are chemicals released during an allergic reaction in the body. As a...
Drugs Used in Lower Respiratory Disorders: Overview
Bronchodilators, the first step of respiration enhancement, come in various forms, each with its own mechanism...
Upper Respiratory Drugs: First and Second-Generation Antihistamines
Histamine binds to specific receptor sites, known as H1 receptors, on tissue cells, triggering inflammation and swelling. Antihistamines combat these effects by competing with histamine for these receptor sites. By...
Upper Respiratory Drugs: Decongestants
Most decongestants are readily available over-the-counter in...
Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla. Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by...
Common Respiratory Disorders
Upper respiratory disorders impact the airways above the vocal cords, encompassing areas like the nose, sinuses, and throat. Various conditions fall under this category, including the common cold and allergic rhinitis. These disorders can stem from several causes,...

