An Update Review of Emerging Small-molecule Therapeutic Options for COVID-19

Overview

Journal Biomed Pharmacother

Specialties Biology
General Medicine
Pharmacology

Date 2021 Feb 8

PMID 33556871

Citations 35

Authors

Dengke Tian

Yuzhi Liu

Chengyuan Liang

Liang Xin

Xiaolin Xie

Dezhu Zhang

Minge Wan

Han Li

Xueqi Fu

Hong Liu

Wenqiang Cao

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak and pandemic that began near the end of 2019 has posed a challenge to global health. At present, many candidate small-molecule therapeutics have been developed that can inhibit both the infection and replication of SARS-CoV-2 and even potentially relieve cytokine storms and other related complications. Meanwhile, host-targeted drugs that inhibit cellular transmembrane serine protease (TMPRSS2) can prevent SARS-CoV-2 from entering cells, and its combination with chloroquine and dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitors can limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and reduce the morbidity and mortality of patients with COVID-19. The present article provides an overview of these small-molecule therapeutics based on insights from medicinal chemistry research and focuses on RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) inhibitors, such as the nucleoside analogues remdesivir, favipiravir and ribavirin. This review also covers inhibitors of 3C-like protease (3CL), papain-like protease (PL) and other potentially innovative active ingredient molecules, describing their potential targets, activities, clinical status and side effects.

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