Overview of therapeutic drug research for COVID-19 in China

Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2020 Sep;41(9):1133-1140. doi: 10.1038/s41401-020-0438-y. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

Abstract

Since the outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) in December 2019, more than 2,500,000 people worldwide have been diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 as of April 22. In response to this epidemic, China has issued seven trial versions of diagnosis and treatment protocol for COVID-19. According to the information that we have collected so far, this article provides an overview of potential therapeutic drugs and compounds with much attention, including favipiravir and hydroxychloroquine, as well as traditional Chinese medicine, which have been reported with good clinical treatment effects. Moreover, with further understanding of SARS-CoV-2 virus, new drugs targeting specific SARS-CoV-2 viral components arise and investigations on these novel anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents are also reviewed.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents; favipiravir; hydroxychloroquine; novel coronavirus pneumonia; therapeutic drugs; traditional Chinese medicine.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Betacoronavirus / drug effects*
  • Betacoronavirus / physiology
  • COVID-19
  • Clinical Protocols
  • Coronavirus Infections* / drug therapy
  • Coronavirus Infections* / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Medicine, Chinese Traditional / methods*
  • Pandemics*
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / drug therapy
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / etiology
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / physiopathology
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents