Why candidate drugs(remdesivir, favipiravir, chloroquine, and lopinavir/ritonavir) used for COVID-19 ?
Remdesivir, Favipiravir, Chloroquine, and lopinavir/ritonavir drugs come effectively to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 patients. Generally, these drugs decreased the virus load and enhanced the patient’s recovery rate.
REMDESIVIR
Remdesivir, a broad-spectrum antiviral drug developed by Gilead sciences pharmaceutical company.
- Route of administration by injection
- mechanism of action:- Active metabolite of remdesivir interfere with the action of RDRP( RNA dependent RNA polymerase) and decrease viral RNA production.
- brand name VEKLURY
FAVIPIRAVIR
Favipiravir, an antiviral drug generally used to treat influenza due to the property of decreased viral load. favipiravir also used to treat in case of mild COVID-19 patients. In India, GLENMARK’S gets accelerated approval for Favipiravir to treat corona patients.
- Route of administration oral by tablets
- Mechanism of action:- interferes the action of RDRP
- Brand name AVIGAN and FABIFLU
CLOROQUINE
Chloroquine, an antimalarial drug also used to treat mild COVID-19 patients. But due to adverse effects on cardiac activity, clinical trials disapproved.
- mechanism of action:- 1.drug interferes with ACE-2 receptors, thus the virus not bind properly with ACE-2 2. drug increase the PH of acidic cellular organelles, so altered post-translation modification of newly synthesized polyprotein.
LOPINAVIR/RITONAVIR
Lopinavir/Ritonavir used to treat HIV/AIDS. Due to the property of decreased viral load also effective in the case of COVID -19.
- mechanism of action:- Inhibit protease that results in the formation of defective virus and viral load decrease.
- brand name KALETRA
What is post translation