In order to combat the current outbreak of pneumonia caused by a novel coronavirus (nCoV) reported in Wuhan, China, Chinese scientists select 30 medications including traditional Chinese medicines as candidates against nCoV1. In particular, an anti-HIV combination, lopinavir and ritonavir, has been employed as a candidate and a randomised, controlled trial (RCT) has been initiated. This combination demonstrated a clinical benefit in patients infected with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV), which is clinically and structurally similar to nCoV. Moreover, a previous unsuccessful anti-Ebola medication, called remdesivir, showed preclinical evidence against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome associated coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and SARS-CoV2. The results of newly initiated RCT may establish an effective treatment against 2019-nCoV.
Keyword: antiviral
References
1. National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China. Chinese researchers select 30 drug candidates to fight novel coronavirus. 29 Jan 2020.
2. Huang C, et al. Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China. Lancet. 2020; doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30183-5.
