Table II. Antiviral drugs under clinical investigation for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Reference Antiviral drug Status Drug target Mechanism Virus-based treatment strategies
Approved for HCV and RSV Randomized trial for SARS (NCT00578825) Inhibits viral RNA RNA-dependent Arabi57 Ribavirin Randomized trial for SARS-CoV-2 in synthesis and RNA polymerase combination with a pegylated IFN mRNA capping (ChiCTR2000029387)
Agostini58 Phase 3 for SARS-CoV-2 Remdesivir RNA-dependent Terminates the non- Manli59 (NCT04252664, NCT04257656) (GS-5734) RNA polymerase obligate chain Sheahan60 Phase 1 for Ebola virus (NCT03719586)
Approved for influenza in Japan Approved for COVID-19 in China Randomized trial for SARS-CoV-2
(NCT04273763, ChiCTR2000029544, Inhibits RNA- Agostini58 Favipiravir ChiCTR2000029548, RNA-dependent dependent RNA ChiCTR2000029600, RNA polymerase polymerase ChiCTR2000029996, ChiCTR2000030113, ChiCTR2000030254)
Inhibits RNA- RNA-dependent Manli59 Penciclovir Approved for HSV dependent RNA RNA polymerase polymerase
Approved for HIV. Clinical trials (ChiCTR2000029853, Reverse Inhibits reverse ChiCTR Azvudine ChiCTR2000030041, transcriptase transcriptase ChiCTR2000030424)
Approved for HIV Phase 3 for SARS-CoV-2 (NCT04251871, NCT04252274, NCT04255017, NCT04261907) Randomized trial for SARS-CoV-2 (ChiCTR2000029308, ChiCTR2000029468, Inhibits 3C-like Sheahan60 Lopinavir ChiCTR2000029539, 3C-like protease protease ChiCTR2000029541, ChiCTR2000029548, ChiCTR2000029603, ChiCTR2000030113, ChiCTR2000030187). Phase 2/3 for MERS (NCT02845843)
Approved for HIV Phase 3 for SARS-CoV-2 (NCT04251871, NCT04252274, NCT04255017) Inhibits 3C-like Sheahan60 Ritonavir Randomized trial for SARS-CoV-2 3C-like protease protease (NCT04261270, ChiCTR2000029308, ChiCTR2000029468, ChiCTR2000029539, ChiCTR2000029541, ChiCTR2000029548, ChiCTR2000029603, ChiCTR2000030000, ChiCTR2000030113, ChiCTR2000030187) Phase 2/3 for MERS (NCT02845843)
Phase 3 for SARS-CoV-2 in ASC09F (HIV Inhibits 3C-like NCT combination with oseltamivir 3C-like protease protease inhibitor) protease (NCT04261270)
Approved for HIV Inhibits 3C-like NCT Darunavir 3C-like protease Phase 3 for SARS-CoV-2 protease (NCT04252274)
Clinical Trials (ChiCTR2000030472, Inhibits NS3/4A ChiCTR Ganovo NS3/4A protease ChiCTR2000030259) protease
Approved for influenza in Russia and China Virus-cell binding Inhibits virus-cell Blaising61 Arbidol (Umifenovir) Phase 4 for SARS-CoV-2 site fusion (NCT04254874, NCT04255017, NCT04260594)
Inhibits spike- Manli59 Nafamostat Approved for anticoagulant therapy in Spike glycoprotein mediated Asian countries membrane fusion Approved for influenza Phase 4 for SARS-CoV-2 Oseltamivir is an (NCT04255017) influenza Arabi62 Oseltamivir Neuraminidase Phase 3 for SARS-CoV-2 neuraminidase (NCT04261270) inhibitor.
Recombinant human angiotensin- NCT Clinical trials (NCT04287686) ACE2 – converting enzyme 2 (rhACE2)
ChiCTR Triazavirin Clinical Trials (ChiCTR2000030001) – –
ChiCTR Zedoary turmeric oil Clinical Trials (ChiCTR2000030518) – –
Host-based treatment strategies
Approved for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (IFN-α2a), melanoma (IFN- Recombinant IFNs (-α α2b), multiple sclerosis (IFN-β1a, 1b), Kim63 IFN response Exogenous IFNs -β, and γ） chronic granulomatous disease (IFN-γ) Clinical trials (ChiCTR2000029387, ChiCTR2000029638) Polyinosinic- Broad spectrum antiviral drugs ChiCTR polycytidylic acid IFN IFN inducer Clinical trials (ChiCTR2000029776) injection
Recombinant human Promote IFN ChiCTR Clinical trials (ChiCTR2000030167) – interleukin-2 production
Induces the host Approved for diarrhea treatment and innate immune Manli59 Nitazoxanide IFN response influenza response to produce IFN-α and IFN-β by the host’s fibroblasts and protein kinase R activation
Approved for malaria and certain amoeba infections Evaluation of the efficacy of clinical trials (NCT04261517, ChiCTR2000029542, A lysosomatropic ChiCTR2000029559, base that appears to Endosomal Manli59 Chloroquine ChiCTR2000029609, disrupt intracellular acidification ChiCTR2000029898, trafficking and viral ChiCTR2000029899, fusion events ChiCTR2000029975, ChiCTR2000029988, ChiCTR2000029992, ChiCTR2000030054) Disruption of AP2- AP2-associated Lu53 Baricitinib Approved for rheumatoid arthritis associated protein protein kinase 1 kinase 1 Abbreviation: ChiCTR, Chinese Clinical Trial Registry; NCT, National Clinical Trial; HCV, hepatitis C virus; RSV, respiratory syncytial virus; HSV, herpes simplex virus; HIV, human immunodeficiency virus; IFN, interferon; AP-2, adaptor protein complex 2.