Cationic drugs and COVID-19

Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2020 Jan-Dec:34:2058738420966078. doi: 10.1177/2058738420966078.

Abstract

Given the sharp spreading of COVID-19 pandemic all around the world, our attention was brought to consider that that many cationic drugs (i.e. those characterized by the presence, at physiological pH value, of one or more cationic groups, both primary, secondary, tertiary and guanidinic aminic groups) could have any effect in impairing SARS-CoV2 entry in the host cell. This could open to new therapeutic chances against COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; cationic drugs; emergency; infection; pandemic.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Betacoronavirus* / drug effects
  • Betacoronavirus* / physiology
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy*
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Drug Discovery* / methods
  • Drug Discovery* / trends
  • Drug Repositioning* / methods
  • Drug Repositioning* / trends
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / drug therapy*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Virus Internalization / drug effects*

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors