Antivirals for Coexistence with COVID-19: Brief Review for General Physicians

Abstract

In order to end the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that has lasted for nearly two years, it is most necessary to introduce antiviral drugs specific to COVID-19 along with the establishment of herd immunity by vaccination. Candidates currently being studied include nucleoside analogues that inhibit replication, protease inhibitors, and entry blockers. Not only the virus itself, but also the host protein that the virus uses in its pathogenesis is the target of treatment. Although the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 will not be completely eradicated, if the use of antiviral drugs is established, the COVID-19 pandemic will end through coexistence with the virus.

Keywords: Antiviral; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; With-Corona.

Fig. 1. Antivirals for the treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 on the basis of viral life cycle.

ACE2 = angiotensin converting enzyme 2, TMPRSS2 = transmembrane protease serine subtype 2, RdRp = RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Part of the graphic of viral particle is from a site of the free vector image site, Image credit: Davian Ho for the Innovative Genomics Institute at https://innovativegenomics.org/free-covid-19-illustrations/.