Spotlight of Remdesivir in Comparison with Ribavirin, Favipiravir, Oseltamivir and Umifenovir in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic

Abstract

2019-nCoV pandemic has influenced on millions of people’s life across the world, which is caused severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Today, no effective treatment exists; however, scientists are endeavoring to find specific antivirals. The efficacy of several drugs such as remdesivir, ribavirin, favipiravir, oseltamivir and umifenovir are currently undergoing clinical studies in order to discover proper treatment of COVID-19. This article tends to summarize these promising antivirals with potential efficacy against this global challenge. A systematic literature review was performed to screen all of the related papers on COVID-19, using the PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases published during five years up to March 22, 2020. We tend to determine the safety and efficacy of remdesivir, ribavirin, favipiravir, oseltamivir and umifenovir. Additionally, we searched Clinicatrial.gov to find ongoing trials. Our search identified seven relevant papers and sixteen ongoing clinical trials. It was clear that there are a few promising therapeutic agents on this horizon. Based on limited evidence in the literature, we suggest that remdesivir treatment, among all of our selected antivirals, accompanied by oxygen inhalations, maintaining fluids, electrolyte and intestinal microbiological modulator balances and nutritional support may be helpful in fighting COVID-19. Based on our systematic results, the use of these antiviral drugs need to be confirmed by ongoing and future clinical trials. The prescription of them in COVID-19 patients should adhere to guidelines to reach better outcome.

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