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Review
. 2020 Jul 7:8:365.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.00365. eCollection 2020.

Progress in the Research and Development of Anti-COVID-19 Drugs

Lianzhou Huang  1 , Yuanqiu Chen  1 , Ji Xiao  1 , Weisheng Luo  1 , Feng Li  1 , Yuan Wang  1 , Yiliang Wang  1 , Yifei Wang  1
Affiliations
Review

Progress in the Research and Development of Anti-COVID-19 Drugs

Lianzhou Huang et al. Front Public Health. .

Abstract

The outbreaks of COVID-19 due to SARS-CoV-2 has caused serious physical and psychological damage to global human health. COVID-19 spread rapidly around the world in a short time. Confronted with such a highly infectious respiratory disease, the research and development of anti-COVID-19 drugs became an urgent work due to the lack of specific drugs for the treatment of COVID-19. Nevertheless, several existing drugs are available to relieve the clinical symptoms of COVID-19. We reviewed information on selected anti-SARS-CoV-2 candidate therapeutic agents published until June 2, 2020. We also discussed the strategies of the development of anti-COVID-19 drugs in the future. Our review provides a novel insight into the future development of a safer, efficient, and toxic-less anti-COVID-19 drug.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; anti-COVID-19 drugs; chloroquine; glucocorticoid; lopinavir/ritonavir; plasma therapy; remdesivir.

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Figures

Graphical Abstract
Graphical Abstract
The life cycle of SARS-CoV-2 and the mechanism of actions of anti-COVID-19 drugs. The life cycle of SARS-CoV-2 in host cells includes: (1) Binding and penetration: SARS-CoV-2 binds to the ACE2 receptors on the cell membrane and entry into host cells through endocytosis. (2) Genome release: the genome of SARS-CoV-2 will be released following the process of membrane fusion. (3) Genome replication: the positive (+)-sense genomic RNA directs the synthesis of negative (−)-sense RNA, which can act as the template to synthesize the RNA chain of progeny virus. (4) Protein biosynthesis: negative (−)-sense RNA acts as a template, with mRNAs transcribed to direct the protein biosynthesis of SARS-CoV-2 via the translation process in the cytoplasm. (5) Assembly: the genomic RNA and virion proteins are reassembled to form a mature virion. (6) Release: the progeny viral particles are released through exocytosis. The levels of actions of corresponding drugs were also depicted. Remdesivir can inhibit the replication of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. The combination of lopinavir/ritonavir can block the maturation of protein. Chloroquine virtually interrupts the whole life cycle of SARS-CoV-2. The antibody within plasma can directly neutralize SARS-CoV-2.
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