TABLE 2.
Different therapeutic agents used for COVID-19 treatment.
| Therapeutic agents | Proposed doses for COVID-19 | Mechanism of action | Target diseases |
| Remdesivir (GS-5734) | 200 mg on day 1, then on days 2–10 100 mg | Nucleoside analog (terminates RNA synthesis) Interfering with virus post-entry | Ebola, SARS-CoV-2 |
| Chloroquine (CQ) | 500 mg each time, 2 times/day for 5–10 days (300 mg for chloroquine) | Increasing endosomal pH Autophagy inhibitors Inhibits viral RNA polymerase Immunomodulating Probably inhibit ACE2 cellular receptor | Antimalarial agent, autoimmune disease |
| Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) | Hydroxychloroquine shares the same mechanism of action as chloroquine | SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 | |
| Lopinavir and ritonavir | 500 mg once, twice a day, for 2 weeks | Protease inhibitors inhibit coronavirus replication | HIV infection |
| Ribavirin | 500 mg a day, 2–3 times daily, in conjunction with IFN-alpha or lopinavir/ritonavir | Nucleoside inhibitor (Interfering with the synthesis of viral mRNA) | Hepatitis C, SARS, MERS |
| Nelfinavir | 400/100 mg (2 tablets of 200/50 mg) every 12 h | Protease Inhibitor | Solid Tumors, HIV |
| Umifenovir (Arbidol) | 200 mg each time, 3 times/day | S protein/ACE2, membrane fusion inhibitor Inhibits the replication of coronavirus in vitro | Influenza infection |
| Favipiravir (T-705) | 1,600 mg*2/first day followed by 600 mg*2/day | Nucleoside analog (RNA polymerase inhibitor) | Influenza A (H1N1), Ebola |
| Camostat mesilate (FoipanTM) | 600 and 300 mg/day | Inhibits serine protease | SARS-CoV-2 |
| Interferon-alpha (IFN-α) | 5 million IU/ml, 2 times/day | Increase cellular immunity, Inhibits viral replication | Broad-spectrum antiviral |
| Tocilizumab | 400 mg IV or 8 mg/kg × 1–2 doses Next dose 8–12 h after the first dose if insufficient response | Inhibits IL-6-mediated signaling (also reduce cytokine storm) | Rheumatoid arthritis |
| Dexamethasone | 16 mg on days 1–5 and 8 mg on days 6–10 | Inhibits inflammatory cells and suppress the expression of inflammatory mediators | MERS and SARS |
Most of these medicines should be used maximum up to 10 days. ACE2, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; G6PD, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase; HIV, human immunodeficiency viruses; IL-6, interleukin 6; IV, intravenous therapy; IU, international unit; URTI, upper respiratory tract infection; MERS, Middle East respiratory syndrome; SARS, severe acute respiratory syndrome.