Tackling COVID-19 Using Remdesivir and Favipiravir as Therapeutic Options

Abstract

The human world is currently influenced largely by the outbreak of pandemic COVID-19. At this moment, most researchers focus on developing treatment strategies and measures to work against COVID-19. Treatment strategies specific for COVID-19 are lacking. This article provides an overview of the life cycle and routes of transmission of SARS-CoV-2. The therapeutic effects of two drugs [i. e., remdesivir (RDV) and favipiravir (FPV)] which can potentially tackle COVID-19 are discussed based on current published data. This review can serve as a reference for future studies.

Keywords: COVID-19; favipiravir; pandemic; remdesivir; routes of transmission.

Figure 1

Synthetic routes of RDV. Abbreviations: Ac₂O, acetic anhydride; DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide; n‐BuLi, n‐butyllithium; TMSCl, trimethylsilyl chloride; TMSCN, trimethylsilyl cyanide; BF₃, boron fluoride; Et₂O, diethyl ether; BCl₃, boron trichloride; MgCl₂, magnesium chloride; NMI, N‐methylimidazole; OP(OMe)₃, trimethyl phosphate; TfOH. triflic acid; TMSOTf, trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate; HPLC, high pressure liquid chromatography; H₂SO₄, sulfuric acid; PhMgCl, phenylmagnesium chloride; i‐PrMgCl ⋅ LiCl, isopropylmagnesium chloride lithium chloride; i‐Pr₂O, diisopropyl ether; i‐Pr₂Net, N,N‐diisopropylethylamine; MgCl₂, magnesium chloride; HCl, hydrochloric acid.

Figure 2

Synthetic routes of FPV. Abbreviations: NaNO₂, sodium nitrite; H₂SO₄, sulfuric acid; CH₃OH, methanol; S‐(BINAP), (S)‐(−)‐2,2′‐bis(diphenylphosphino)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl; Pd₂(dba)₃, tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0); NH₃, ammonia; NaNO₂, sodium nitrite; NaI, sodium iodide; TMSCl, trimethylsilyl chloride; POCl₃, phosphoryl chloride; KNO₃, potassium nitrate; KF, potassium fluoride; Bu₄NBr, tetrabutylammonium bromide; K₂CO₃, potassium carbonate; H₂O₂, hydrogen peroxide; NaHCO₃, sodium bicarbonate; NBS, N‐bromosuccinimide; CH₃CN, methyl cyanide; DIEA, N,N‐diisopropylethylamine; KF, potassium fluoride; TBAB, tetra‐n‐butylammonium bromide; DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide, NaCN, sodium cyanide; Pd (PPh₃)₄, tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0); TiCl₄, titanium tetrachloride; HCl, hydrochloric acid