Remdesiver inhibits viral RNA polymerase and has a broader therapeutic window as it work against SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV.  Primary trials have shown improvement of recovery and decreasing respiratory tract infection at a rate of 68% in a clinical settings. However, there is still a lack of randomized-placebo testing

Remdesivir (GS-5734)

Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are known for treating malaria but are actually no longer effective against malaria parasites due to the development of resistance. They are now used to treat autoimmune diseases. Recently, they are considered to treat viral infections, mores specifically COVID-19, due to their low toxicity, affordability, great tolerability, and their ability to regulate the immune system. Both are soluble in water with hydroxychloroquine being slightly more soluble than chloroquine. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are known to have long half-lives of 38 days and 54 days, respectively. They can easily build up in tissue after prolonged exposure but are metabolized by the liver and excreted through urine. Some possible side effects include keropathy, maculopathy, and retinopathy.

Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine

- hydroxychloroquine
- chloroquine
- Remdesivir (GS-5734)

University of California, Santa Cruz

Previously used drugs approved by the FDA have been repurposed in order to be tested against COVID-19. However, clinical trials are underway for several anti-malarial drugs in order to test their effects against the disease.

In silico approaches that are currently used for drug repurposing, including molecular docking, molecular dynamics, and computational chemistry, constitute valuable tools to aid preclinical and clinical studies of nanomaterials directed for disease treatment. 


Drug re-purposing against COVID-19

Allam, M., Cai, S., Ganesh, S., Venkatesan, M., Doodhwala, S., Song, Z., . . . Coskun, A. F. (2020). COVID-19 Diagnostics, Tools, and Prevention. Diagnostics, 10(6), 409. doi:10.3390/diagnostics10060409

https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/10/6/409

COVID-19 Diagnostics, Tools, and Prevention

Anti-malarial drugs

Broad-spectrum antiviral drugs

Anthelmintic drugs

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332220307757
- Marketed drugs exhibit modest antiviral activity via the mechanism not necessarily the protein
- Ex. chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin
- CADs (catatonic amphiphilic drugs) have potential anti-inflammatory effects

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