Some drugs approved by the FDA could be reused to treat people infected with COVID-19

Despite the development of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, effective treatments are needed until global immunity is achieved. A study published in PLOS pathogens by Adam Pickard and Karl Kadler at the University of Manchester, UK, and colleagues suggest that some drugs approved by the FDA could be safely reused to treat COVID-19 infections.

The majority of the world’s population is still unvaccinated, but there are few drugs that have been shown to be safe, easily distributed, and able to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2. To identify drugs that could effectively treat SARS-CoV-2 infections, researchers performed a screening of therapeutics approved by the FDA in 1971 using a luminescent enzyme labeled version of the SARS virus. -CoV-2 in order to quantify the viral load. They then analyzed the effectiveness of the drugs in a range of infected human cell types, observing how well the virus replicated in the infected cells after exposure to each drug.

The authors identified nine drugs effective in suppressing virus replication in cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 already infected with SARS-CoV-2. However, the study was limited in that it was only conducted in human cells and the effectiveness of the drugs has not yet been tested in treating SARS-CoV-2 in patients. Clinical trials are needed to determine if the drugs are suitable for patients with COVID-19.

According to the authors, “Our study identified compounds that are safe for humans and showing their efficacy in reducing infection and replication of SARS-CoV-2 in human cells. As these drugs are approved by the FDA and with safe dosimetry already established for use in patients, clinical trials could be initiated for these drugs within a relatively short time frame. “

Kadler adds, “We are identifying drugs that stop the SARS-CoV-2 virus (which causes COVID-19) from replicating in cultured human cells. The drugs include ebastine, which is approved by the FDA for the treatment of Pneumocystis jirovecii (Pneumocystis carinii) pneumonia, and vitamin D3, which is available over the counter, and could be powerful additions to the treatment of COVID-19. These drugs have not been evaluated in patients with COVID-19 and are not alternatives to existing treatments or vaccination programs. ”