Camrelizumab was recently approved for the treatment of relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma in China. It is currently being studied for its potential use in SARS-CoV-2 infection. It is an immune checkpoint inhibitor monoclonal antibody (MAb) of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1). PD-1 is essential in regulating T cell depletion in sepsis and blocking it can prevent T cell death, reduce organ dysfunction, and regulate cytokine production. 

Camrelizumab 

Bevacizumab is an experimental MAb approved to treat metastatic colorectal cancer, non-small lung cell cancer, metastatic breast cancer and renal cell carcinoma. This drug binds vascular endothelial cell growth factor to prevent its activity in blood vessel proliferation. It has been found to have activity in ARDS and acute lung injury and is currently being studied for use in COVID-19 patients. 

Bevacizumab

Thalidomide is generally used to treat interstitial pulmonary fibrosis which is lung damage resulting from the herbicide paraquat and from myeloma. The drug has also shown activity against HIV via modulation of replication induced by the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha. Thalidomide has also been shown to inhibit nuclear factor kB which leads to the suppression of proinflammatory TNF-alpha and IL-8. As a result of its function in treating lung damage and its activity against another virus, HIV, it was suggested that it could be used in the treatment of COVID-19

Thalidomide

- Camrelizumab
- Bevacizumab
- Thalidomide

Rutgers University

COVID-19 currently has multiple treatment options for infected patients from existing medications that are being repurposed for COVID-19. This generally consists of antiviral medications or anti inflammatory drugs. It is essential to explore the properties of and actions of the drug in the body of COVID-19 patients. The use of these drugs will be affected by their disease state, thus impacting the efficacy and/or safety of these medications. As a result drug therapies may have to be monitored for adverse reactions especially considering patients will likely be on multiple medications at once, posing a risk for drug-drug interactions. A pharmacological analysis is necessary to determine the best and safest option for managing COVID-19 with medication.

Current pharmacological treatments for COVID-19: What's next? 

- Lopinavir/ritonavir
- Remdesivir
- Favipiravir
- Darunavir/cobicistat
- Camostat mesilate and nafamostat

Antiretroviral Agents

Other Potential Therapies

These agents were discussed as immunomodulatory or anti-inflammatory candidates within proposed pharmacological treatments for COVID-19. The group includes tocilizumab, chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine, colchicine, baricitinib, aviptadil, eculizumab, azithromycin, anakinra, pentoxifylline, theophylline, and cyclosporine.

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