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.