THE MOST PROMINENT ANTIVIRAL PHARMACEUTICALS USED AGAINST COVID-19 AND THEIR PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

Many well-known commercial pharmaceuticals have been used in the therapy against SARS-CoV-2, although in a random and experimental way, since this use is only based on the knowledge about culture cells in vitro. But, it is widely known that it is not correlated with assays in vivo conducted with in animals or with clinical trials in humans. Knowledge about treatments applied to previous pandemic infections caused by viruses such as MERS and SARS may be the most interesting strategy used to screen products with potential to act against SARS-CoV-2. Mechanistic aspects of virus infections and antiviral action mechanisms were herein analyzed based on the assumption that these commercial pharmaceuticals can eliminate the virus. Perspectives about these procedures, as well as about finished clinical trials and the ones yet in progress, were also addressed in the current study.