Antiviral treatment of COVID-19: a clinical pharmacology narrative review

Instiaty; I Gusti Agung Ayu Putu Sri Darmayani; Jefman Efendi Marzuki; Ferina Angelia; William; Angelina Siane; Lela Dwi Sary; Lina Yohanes; Reni  Widyastuti; Riki Nova; Dewi Sharon Simorangkir; Lonah; Yolanda Safitri; Gestina Aliska; Anggi Gayatri

doi:10.13181/mji.rev.204652

Authors

Instiaty Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8958-5441
I Gusti Agung Ayu Putu Sri Darmayani Postgraduate Student of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
Jefman Efendi Marzuki Postgraduate Student of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0776-2417
Ferina Angelia The Indonesian Clinical Pharmacology Association (PERDAFKI), Jakarta, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0220-837X
William The Indonesian Clinical Pharmacology Association (PERDAFKI), Jakarta, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2475-4934
Angelina Siane The Indonesian Clinical Pharmacology Association (PERDAFKI), Jakarta, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7964-6899
Lela Dwi Sary The Indonesian Clinical Pharmacology Association (PERDAFKI), Jakarta, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1981-5870
Lina Yohanes Postgraduate Student of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
Reni Widyastuti The Indonesian Clinical Pharmacology Association (PERDAFKI), Jakarta, Indonesia
Riki Nova The Indonesian Clinical Pharmacology Association (PERDAFKI), Jakarta, Indonesia
Dewi Sharon Simorangkir The Indonesian Clinical Pharmacology Association (PERDAFKI), Jakarta, Indonesia
Lonah The Indonesian Clinical Pharmacology Association (PERDAFKI), Jakarta, Indonesia
Yolanda Safitri Postgraduate Student of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7724-1564
Gestina Aliska The Indonesian Clinical Pharmacology Association (PERDAFKI), Jakarta, Indonesia
Anggi Gayatri Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13181/mji.rev.204652

Keywords:

COVID-19, favipiravir, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir, oseltamivir, remdesivir

Abstract

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in December 2019 in China, has become a pandemic in March 2020. Repurposing old and relatively safe drugs becomes an advantageous option to obtain the urgently needed effective treatment. Repurposing chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, oseltamivir, lopinavir/ritonavir, and
favipiravir, and the use of investigational drug remdesivir for treatment of COVID-19, are reviewed from the clinical pharmacology perspective, particularly its efficacy and safety. Limited clinical studies of chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, favipiravir, and remdesivir showed some efficacy in COVID-19 treatment with tolerable adverse effects. Potential serious adverse effect of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine is cardiac arrhythmia. Oseltamivir has no documented activity against SARS-CoV-2, while lopinavir/ritonavir showed limited efficacy in COVID-19. Currently, there is no sufficient evidence to recommend any specific anti-COVID-19 treatment. The decision to use these drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic must be based on careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks to the patient.

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