Discussions

One of the fastest and most effective methods of drug discovery is to test whether existing antiviral drugs can effectively treat emerging viral infections. Researchers are evaluating countermeasures for SARS-CoV-2 using SARS and MERS as prototypes. Several antiviral drugs, including ribavirin, interferons, and the anti-HIV combination lopinavir/ritonavir or remdesivir, have shown promise against MERS in animal models and are being assessed versus SARS-CoV-2.

Ribavirin is a guanosine analog with broad-spectrum antiviral activity and has been used to treat severe respiratory syncytial virus infection, HCV infection, and viral hemorrhagic fevers. Its exact mechanism of action is unclear, but inhibition of mRNA capping and induction of mutations in RNA-dependent viral replication have been considered as possible antiviral mechanisms for RNA viruses. Although ribavirin for SARS-CoV-2 has been treating the coronavirus family for a long time, its efficacy and safety for SARS-CoV-2 need to be further validated and evaluated.