Pharmacological Basis for the Potential Role of Azithromycin and Doxycycline in Management of COVID-19
Overview
Authors
Affiliations
A novel corona virus SARS-CoV-2 has led to an outbreak of the highly infectious pandemic COVID-19 complicated viral pneumonia. Patients with risk factors frequently develop secondary infections where the role of appropriate antibiotics is mandatory. However, the efforts of drug repurposing lead to recognizing the role of certain antibiotics beyond the management of infection. The current review provided the detailed antiviral, immunomodulatory effect, unique pharmacokinetic profile of two antibiotics namely azithromycin (AZ) and doxycycline (DOX). It summarizes current clinical trials and concerns regarding safety issues of these drugs. Azithromycin (AZ) has amazing lung tissue access, wide range antibacterial efficacy, conceivable antiviral action against COVID-19. It also showed efficacy when combined with other antiviral drugs in limited clinical trials, but many clinicians raise concerns regarding cardiovascular risk in susceptible patients. DOX has a considerable role in the management of pneumonia, it has some advantages including cardiac safety, very good access to lung tissue, potential antiviral, and immunomodulation impact by several mechanisms. The pharmacological profiles of both drugs are heightening considering these medications for further studies in the management of COVID-19.
Kassym L, Kussainova A, Semenov D, Aimurziyeva A, Uzbekova S, Semenova Y Sci Rep. 2025; 15(1):6309.
PMID: 39984711 PMC: 11845685. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-91216-4.
Liang Y, Quan X, Gu R, Meng Z, Gan H, Wu Z Heliyon. 2024; 10(16):e35988.
PMID: 39247343 PMC: 11379597. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e35988.
Al Sulaiman K, Aljuhani O, Korayem G, Alnajjar L, Altebainawi A, AlFaifi M Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2023; 29:10760296231177017.
PMID: 37322869 PMC: 10278434. DOI: 10.1177/10760296231177017.
Immunomodulatory role of azithromycin: Potential applications to radiation-induced lung injury.
Yan Y, Wu L, Li X, Zhao L, Xu Y Front Oncol. 2023; 13:966060.
PMID: 36969016 PMC: 10030824. DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.966060.
Local Delivery of Azithromycin Nanoformulation Attenuated Acute Lung Injury in Mice.
Alrashedi M, Ali A, Ahmed O, Ibrahim I Molecules. 2022; 27(23).
PMID: 36500388 PMC: 9739299. DOI: 10.3390/molecules27238293.