Suggested Actions
The following is a non-exhaustive list of suggested studies that could
be considered at this point:
- Confirmatory pharmacokinetic and toxicological studies of oral
tetrandrine
- A clinical trial to investigate tetrandrine’s potential, using a
standard oral dose, as an acute therapeutic or prophylactic agent
against SARS-CoV-2 infection, provided safety can be confirmed for the
particular length of use
- In vitro investigations to assess the potential of other
calcium channel blockers known to block TPCs, such as nifedipine or
verapamil, to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus replication
- If indicated by (3), a clinical trial to investigate the potential
role of clinically established calcium channel blockers such as
nifedipine or verapamil as therapeutic agents in SARS-CoV-2 infection
- A retrospective analysis of the relative outcomes of COVID-19 patients
already on CCBs
- In vitro investigations to assess the potential of analogues of
Ned-19 and other chemicals with expected specificity as TPC inhibitors
to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus replication
- An autopsy toxicology study to assess tetrandrine (or other calcium
channel blocker) concentration in human lung tissue in patients
prescribed these drugs during life