COVID-19: Is it time to revisit the research on calcium channel drug targets?

Abstract

As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to endanger global health and hamper the world economy, there are concerns and reconsiderations for medication taken by patients with cardiometabolic disorders as they are more vulnerable to COVID-19. While several articles and perspectives have dealt with the concern and safe continuation of antihypertensive drugs, there is paucity of information on calcium channel blockers (CCB). Despite the biology of calcium channel involvement in virus entry and replication, the beneficial effect of CCB is somewhat speculative and only preclinically evident. This commentary focusses on the clinical research on CCB in the context of COVID-19.