Introduction.

Recently Sanders et al. (1) have highlighted both the fact that no therapies for treating COVID-19 were available at their time of writing and yet the need to have high quality evidence readily available in a pandemic. In a solution to this problem, we note there exists the potential confluence of two approaches that may prove beneficial in this pandemic setting. The first seeking agents that treat the host, not necessarily the virus, and building on the pioneering studies of David Fedson in this field (2-5); the second, the concept of repurposing existing therapeutics for new indications. Both concepts are enshrined in pharmacological principles.
In this Review we have below explored these concepts and provide a potential path for efficient evaluation of candidate drugs using inhibitors of the Renin Angiotensin System (RAS) as an example.