Drug repositioning for use against COVID-19

With the emergence of the respiratory disease caused by the new corona-virus

(SARS-CoV-2) that emerged in December 2019, scientists have taken new strides in the repositioning of already available antiviral drugs to fight COVID-19. This is a trend that was adopted in the fight against the zika virus when azithromycin was used.

Among the leading potential drugs are Chloroquine, Hydroxychloroquine and Remdesivir.

Chloroquine is on the WHO's list of the safest and most effective medicines needed in a health system used in the treatment or prevention of Malaria, treatment of Amebiasis and Rheumatic disease

Hydroxychloroquine is used specifically in the treatment of Chloroquine sensitive malaria and Rheumatic disease

Remdesivir was developed as a treatment for the West African Ebola virus epidemic of 2013–2016. Janet Diaz, head of clinical care for the World Health Organization Emergencies Program stated at a press conference that WHO was prioritizing a couple of other drugs in testing along with remdesivir in its war chest.

Didier Raoult has published a review in the International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09248579] Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine inhibiting a process called glycosylation, a chemical transformation of the proteins in the virus’s outer shell that’s part of the infection process.

The work is still on going with success for in vitro studies, studies in humans and clinical trials are expected to take off with haste.