Clinical use in COVID-19
Most antiviral agents used for COVID-19 act either by inhibiting
RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (remdesivir (GS-5734)) or proteases
(lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r), favipiravir (FPV), ribavirin and
darunavir) (37-40). Additionally, umifenovir plays a role in viral entry
by inhibiting the hemagglutinin-mediated membrane fusion, and
oseltamivir is a neuraminidase inhibitor which blocks the release of
viral particles from the host cells in influenza infection (41).
Remdesivir and FPV are considered to be the most effective agents and
are mostly used in combination with other COVID-19 medications like
hydroxychloroquine (37-40). Oseltamivir
is recommended for concomitant influenza infection (42). Darunavir or
LPV/r can be concomitantly administered with chloroquine or
hydroxychloroquine (40).