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Review
. 2021 Jan:222:108634.
doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2020.108634. Epub 2020 Nov 17.

COVID-19: A review of therapeutic strategies and vaccine candidates

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Review

COVID-19: A review of therapeutic strategies and vaccine candidates

Vladislav Izda et al. Clin Immunol. 2021 Jan.

Abstract

The world is engulfed by one of the most widespread and significant public health crises in decades as COVID-19 has become among the leading causes of death internationally. The novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus which causes COVID-19 has unified the scientific community in search of therapeutic and preventative solutions. The top priorities at the moment are twofold: first, to repurpose already-approved pharmacologic agents or develop novel therapies to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with the ever-spreading virus. Secondly, the scientific and larger pharmaceutical community have been tasked with the development, testing, and production of a safe and effective vaccine as a longer-term solution to prevent further spread and recurrence throughout the populace. The purpose of this article is to review the most up-to-date published data regarding both the leading pharmacological therapies undergoing clinical trials and vaccine candidates in development to stem the threat of COVID-19.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
(A) Mechanisms of action of various therapeutic agents being deployed against SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19; (B) An overview of the various vaccine candidate types and their mechanism of action.

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