Therapeutic Options to Covid-19: A Perspective on Pharmacological Properties and Safety

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to analyze therapeutic options to try Covid-19, that combine antiviral adding an anti-inflammatory drug, procuring efficacy and security.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a serious threat to public health and is in urgent need of specific drugs. There are no recommendations for the pharmacological management of COVID-19 disease, although a number of medications are being evaluated daily in quest of the best therapeutic approach. Some antiviral medications, such as danoprevir, favipiravir, darunavir, nelfinavir, remdesivir, umifenovir, and the combination of lopinavir and ritonavir, have been evaluated thus far. Others are drugs targeting inflammatory mediators such as meplazumab, siltuximab, tocilizumab, azithromycin and corticosteroids. Also included in this array of tested drugs are those with pleiotropic actions against SARS-CoV-2 infection like chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin and nitazoxanide, postulated as inhibitors of several phases of virus life cycle. When SARS-CoV-2 infection is identified, it is important to start a treatment plan based on available antiviral alternatives, properly handled in a suitable medical setting. We recommend that medications that target inflammatory mediators be taken into consideration in addition to antiviral options.