Table 6.
Drug repurposing examples and their mechanism of action in antivirus applications.
| Drug | Structure | Drug Class | Repurposed Indication | Mechanisms | Original Indications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emricasan |  |
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) | ZIKV infection | Anti-cell-death | Investigated for treatment in hepatitis (viral, C), liver disease |
| PhA-690509 |  |
Cyclin-dependent kinase A inhibitor | ZIKV infection | Inhibit caspase-3 activity in SNB-19 cells | Anti-cancer |
| Mycophenolic acid |  |
Immunosuppressant | ZIKV infection | Inhibit an enzyme needed for the growth of T cells and B cells | For the prophylaxis of organ rejection in patients receiving allogeneic renal transplants |
| Mefloquine |  |
Chloroquine resistant or multidrug resistant falciparum malaria | ZIKV infection | Asexual red blood cell type killing Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vivax (killing blood proliferator) | Against chloroquine-resistant forms of Plasmodium falciparum |
| Suramin |  |
African trypanosomiasis and onchocerciasis | ZIKV infection | Block the replication of a variety of viruses | For treatment of onchocerciasis |
| Sofosbuvir |  |
Chronic hepatitis C | Inhibit ZIKV RNA polymerase | Against hepatitis C virus (HCV). | Used in combination therapy with other antiviral medications to treat HCV infected patients |
| Favipiravir |  |
Influenza | Against Ebola Virus | Inhibit RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) activity of influenza virus | Used to treat cases of influenza that were unresponsive to conventional treatment |
| Toremifene |  |
Metastatic breast cancer | Against Ebola Virus | Overexpression of NPC1 inhibits virus invasion | For the treatment of metastatic breast cancer |
| Cardiac glycosides |  |
Chronic cardiac insufficiency | Anti-HCMV | Drugs interfere with host pathways where viruses are carried away | manifest and chronic cardiac insufficiency |
| Emetine |  |
Anti-parasitic drugs | Anti-HCMV | Direct killing of amoeba trophozoites | severe invasive amoebiasis |
| Nitazoxanide |  |
Anti-parasitic drugs | Anti-HCMV; Anti-Influenza | Inhibit RNA and DNA virus replication | For the treatment of diarrhea in adults and children caused by the protozoa Giardia lamblia |
| Manidipine |  |
Anti-hypertensive drug | Anti-HCMV | Block the entrance of extracellular calcium into the cell | For the treatment of hypertension |
| Ferroquine |  |
Antimalarial | Anti-HCV | Inhibit the formation of β-hematin | Antimalarial drug candidate |
| Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid |  |
Anticancer | Anti-HCV | Catalyze the removal of the acetyl moiety from the lysine residues of proteins | For the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma |