Abstract:
The highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, typically induces atypical pneumonia in
humans by replicating in the lower and upper respiratory tract. It may also infect gastrointestinal and
cardiovascular tissue, where its key binding receptor, ACE2 is located. Numerous treatment strategies have
been investigated and repurposed to mitigate the potentially serious clinical outcomes of the COVID-19
pandemic. Yet there is currently no definitive treatment for this disease. This literature review examined the
published clinical evidence of potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 antiviral drug efficacy in terms of reducing viral load,
recovery time, hospitalization time, mechanical ventilation, and case fatality rates in COVID-19 patients.
It was found that remdesivir, the FDA-approved antiviral for severe illness, shows suboptimal efficacy, that
neutralizing antibodies including bamlanivimab/etesevimab, casirivimab/imdevimab, and CT-P59 demonstrate
clinical efficacy, particularly in reducing SARS-CoV-2 viral loads and curbing hospitalization and death, and
that antivirals such as favipiravir, sofosbuvir/daclatasvir, and nitazoxanide may harbor potential efficacy.
Nafamostat-mesylate and novaferon require further investigation to validate promising early findings. In
conclusion, definitive treatments of COVID-19 remain elusive, but numerous antiviral strategies including
remdesivir and neutralizing antibodies may temper COVID-19. Prevention of COVID-19 may be achieved by
vaccination, but only a small proportion of the global population is inoculated. Therefore, ongoing research on
anti-SARS-CoV-2 treatment is required.
