A Review of Sars-Cov-2 Pharmacotherapy

Abstract

The Coronavirus viral disease 2019 (COVID-19) is arguably the most important medical and public health challenge of the current decade. This has resulted in tens of millions of deaths and disturbed socio-economic lives across the globe.  Clinicians and scientists have been assessing many potential anti-virals for effective control of SARS-CoV-2. Many drugs have been repurposed and granted emergency authorization for use in the treatment of COVID-19 cases. Some of the drugs that have been assessed include Remdesivir, Ribavirine, Favipiravir, Lopinavir/ritonavir, hydroxychloroquine, dexamethasone, biologics and the anti-parasitic ivermectin. Dexamethasone significantly cut mortality among severe and critical SARS-CoV-2 cases. There were no clinical benefits with the use of hydroxychloroquine and Lopinavir/ritonavir in the RECOVERY Trials. Early observational studies and a randomized controlled clinical trial conducted in Nigeria demonstrated the possibility of the efficacy of ivermectin in the treatment of SARSCoV-2. Overall, effective and efficient pharmacotherapeutic interventions will be important in achieving SARS-CoV-2 control. There is also evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine was effective in curtailing the effects of the pandemic. Different generic vaccines available are DNA vaccine, mRNA vaccine, and non-replicating viral vector vaccines.