4c . The historical safety of the proposed repurposed
drug.
We need to know the historical safety of proposed RAS inhibitors in
exploring their potential role as repurposed drugs for treating
COVID-19. Losartan, telmisartan, olmesartan (and additional AT1R
antagonists) have been widely applied in the clinic since the 1990s for
control of hypertension, diabetes and some kidney disorders, and are
known as safe drugs that are rarely implicated in adverse drugs events
(54-55).
Based on historical safety experience data there would be an argument to
explore further the possibility of a new indication for RAS inhibitors
as repurposed drugs in COVID-19.