TABLE 1.
Targets, Mechanism of action, required dose, safety profile, and improvements of repurposed anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs.
| Name | Targets | Mechanism | Dose and usage | Limitations | Improvements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Favipiravir | RdRp | Targets RdRp and inhibits viral transcription and replication mechanism | Duration of treatment-5 days. 1,800 mg twice (day 1) followed by 800 mg twice (day 2–5). | Teratogenic in nature | Works effectively in the form of combination therapy with Chloroquine and Azithromycin |
| Remdesivir | RdRp | Nucleotide analog that halts viral genome replication | Corse of medicine-<10, 200 mg (day 1) and 100 mg for the following days via intravenous instillation. | Respiratory failure, organ impairment | Unknown |
| Lymecycline | Viral survival proteins | Restricts the production of viral proteins essential for survival | 408 mg, 1–2 capsules twice a day | No side effects | Unknown |
| Telmisartan | ACE2 receptor | Blocks angiotensin receptor | 80 mg/12 h | No registered side effects | Unknown |
| Lopinavir | 3CLpro | Impedes 3CLpro activity | 250 mg/50 mg capsule, oral intake of two capsules at a time twice per day | Toxic in nature, harmful impact on the immune system | Unknown |
| Chloroquine | Endosomal vesicles | Increases endosomal pH beyond normal | 600 mg twice daily for 10 days | Diarrhea, alopecia, and loss of appetite | No concrete data of clinical effectiveness |
| Type I Interferon (IFN) | Viral replication | Suppresses viral replication in the host | 450 mg, 1–2 capsules twice a day | No side effects | Works effectively in combination with other antiviral drugs |
| Plasma therapy | SARS-CoV-2 | Virus neutralization | 200 ml of plasma per day | Transfusion-associated reactions | Storage and distribution can be improved |
| Arbidol | Viral-cell membrane fusion | Inhibits host cell adhesion | 200 mg, 1–2 capsules twice a day | No side effects | Unknown |
| Azithromycin | Translation of viral RNA | Inhibits protein synthesis | 500 mg orally (Day 1), followed by 250 mg once a day (Day 2–5) | Abnormal heart rhythms, liver problems, myasthenia gravis | More effective with combined doses of Azithromycin and placebo |
| Baloxavir marboxil | Viral replicase enzymes | Inhibits crucial viral polymerase needed for replication | 40 mg (wt < 40) single dose 80 mg (wt < 80) single dose |
Fever, chills, muscle aches, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose | Unknown |