CURRENT THERAPEUTIC OPTIONS FOR CORONAVIRUS DISEASE-2019 – A PHARMACOLOGICAL REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2020.v13i8.38342Keywords:
Coronavirus disease-2019, Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2, Coronavirus, Drug treatmentAbstract
Objectives: Coronavirus pandemic is currently a global public health emergency. With expanding knowledge of the virus and the disease, new therapeutic targets are emerging widely. There is limited evidence about the use of different treatment options in coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). This review aims to summarize the available evidence regarding therapeutic options in treating coronavirus infection.
Methods: We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane library using pre-specified Medical Subject Headings terms about the role of therapeutic options in COVID-19 patients.
Results: The majority of the published evidence is either case reports or small observational studies. Antimalarial like hydroxychloroquine reported equivocal results with five studies got positive results and five without any added benefit compared with standard of care. Lopinavir/ ritonavir monotherapy does not show any significant role except in combination with other antiviral drugs but encouraging results are emerging with remdesivir. Studies with favipiravir are inconclusive with some exhibit benefit and others not. Limited case series have shown that tocilizumab and convalescent plasma to be useful as adjuvant therapy in critically ill patients.
Conclusion: There is currently no strong evidence for the efficacy of different therapeutic agents in the treatment of COVID-19. More data from ongoing and future trials will add more insight into the role of various drugs.
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