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Table 1 Summarizes of potential drugs under investigation in clinical trials against COVID-19

From: Potential therapeutic options for COVID-19: an update on current evidence

Drugs

Drug target

Related disease

Results of studies

References

Antivirals

 Favipiravir

RdRp inhibitor

Influenza

Clinical improvement and viral clearance within 7 or 14 days, lower needing to supplemental oxygen therapy

[34,35,36]

 Sofosbuvir/daclatasvir

Nucleoside analog/NS5A inhibitor

HCV

Improving clinical outcomes, reduce mortality rate and need for ICU/IMV

[37, 38]

 Molnupiravir

RNA mutagenesis

Influenza

Highly effective at reducing nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 infectious virus and viral RNA, has a favorable safety and tolerability profile

[39]

 Danoprevir

NS3/4A protease inhibitor

HCV

Significantly shorter mean time to achieve both negative nucleic acid testing and hospital stays

[40]

Anti-inflammatory drugs

 Ruxolitinib

JAK inhibition

Rheumatoid arthritis

Faster clinical improvement, significant chest CT improvement

[41, 42]

 Tofacitinib

JAK inhibition

Rheumatoid arthritis

Lower risk of death or respiratory failure through day 28

[43]

 Imatinib

JAK inhibition

Cancer

Beneficial effects on survival and duration of mechanical ventilation

[44]

 Fluvoxamine

Agonist for the sigma-1 receptor

Anti-depressant

Lower likelihood of clinical deterioration over 15 days

[45]

 Methylprednisolone

Inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine production

Inflammation, immune system disorders

Decreased the recovery time, the need for transfer to intensive care and the severity markers C-reactive protein, D-dimer and LDH, lower need for a ventilator

[46,47,48]

 Budesonide

Inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine production

Asthma

Reduced the likelihood of needing urgent medical care and reduced time to recovery, reduced hospital admissions or deaths

[49, 50]

 Artesunate

NF-κB-coronavirus effect and chloroquine-like endocytosis inhibition

Malaria

Lower treatment time, improve prognosis and eliminate pathogens, with fewer adverse reactions

[51]

 Type I interferons

Balances the expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory agents

Multiple sclerosis

Decreased mortality rate and time of hospitalization

[52, 53]

Other most common drugs

 Telmisartan

Angiotensin receptor blocker

Hypertension

Safe and reduced morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients, anti-inflammatory effects

[54, 55]

 Nitazoxanide

Inhibition of the pyruvate: ferredoxin/flavodoxin oxidoreductase cycle

Anti-parasitic

Improvement in clinical, virologic and inflammatory outcomes in moderate COVID-19, safe and significantly reduced viral load in early use

[56, 57]

 Niclosamide

Prevention of viral entry by altering endosomal pH, Prevention of viral replication by inhibition of autophagy

Anti-parasitic

Accelerated time to recovery about 3 to 5 days in moderate to severe COVID-19 patients especially those with co-morbidities

[58]

 Bromhexine

TMPRSS2 protease blocker

Mucolytic

The early administration reduced the ICU transfer, intubation, and the mortality rate

[59, 60]

 Dornase alfa

Recombinant human deoxyribonuclease I

Cystic fibrosis

Improvement in oxygenation, reduction in ventilatory support

[61, 62]

 Dexmedetomidine

Selective alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist

Sedation

Effective sedative and may improve oxygenation, significantly reduced the intubation rate and ICU length of stay by 2.9 days, did not change the mortality rate decline in heart rate and high incidence of bradycardia and hypotension

[63, 64]

 Fluoxetine

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

Antidepressant

Lower risk of death or intubation in hospitalized patients

[65]