Pharmaceutical approaches for COVID-19: An update on current therapeutic opportunities

Acta Pharm. 2023 Jun 12;73(2):157-173. doi: 10.2478/acph-2023-0014. Print 2023 Jun 1.

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2, a newly discovered coronavirus, has been linked to the COVID-19 pandemic and is currently an important public health issue. Despite all the work done to date around the world, there is still no viable treatment for COVID-19. This study examined the most recent evidence on the efficacy and safety of several therapeutic options available including natural substances, synthetic drugs and vaccines in the treatment of COVID-19. Various natural compounds such as sarsapogenin, lycorine, biscoclaurine, vitamin B12, glycyrrhizic acid, riboflavin, resveratrol and kaempferol, various vaccines and drugs such as AZD1222, mRNA-1273, BNT162b2, Sputnik V, and remdesivir, lopinavir, favipiravir, darunavir, oseltamivir, and umifenovir, resp., have been discussed comprehensively. We attempted to provide exhaustive information regarding the various prospective therapeutic approaches available in order to assist researchers and physicians in treating COVID-19 patients.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; drugs; natural compounds; treatment; vaccine.

MeSH terms

  • BNT162 Vaccine
  • COVID-19*
  • ChAdOx1 nCoV-19
  • Humans
  • Pandemics
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • BNT162 Vaccine
  • ChAdOx1 nCoV-19
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations