A review on pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and clinical aspects of remdesivir and favipiravir for the treatment of coronavirus disease

Abstract

The coronavirus disease has spread all over the world. Till now no medicine, vaccine, and any other monoclonal antibodies have been approved for the diagnosis or prevention of COVID-19. In many countries, doctors are considering “repurposing” different approved drugs like interferon-ɑ, lopinavir/ ritonavir, ribavirin, and chloroquine phosphate, etc. to treat COVID-19. Remedesivir (GS-5734) is a prodrug of monophosphoramidate of adenosine analogue. Remedesivir block the viral RNA dependent RNA polymerease (RdRp). Favipiravir (T-705) is also a prodrug and was revealed during evaluating the antiviral activity of chemical agents concerning the influenza virus. This review summarizes the status, mechanisms, preclinical research, and clinical trial progress of remedesivir and favipiravir for the treatment of COVID-19. Keywords: coronavirus disease, favipiravir, remdesivir, clinical trials, pharmacodynamics