Research on repurposed antivirals currently available in Colombia as treatment alternatives for COVID-19

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared as pandemic on March 2020 by the World Health Organization. This respiratory disease is caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and current efforts are focused in finding pharmaceutical alternatives and vaccines for both, preventing and treating the infected patients around the world. After quarantine and lockdown periods, the treatment of the disease is still limited to symptomatology management and remission to critical care units of the most severe cases. America accumulate the highest number of cases and casualties and the increased pressure over the economy led to the relaxing of mitigation measures. Several clinical trials involving antivirals have been conducted as available alternatives on the short term to face the increasing rate of contagions while experimental vaccines are properly developed and tested. Scientific literature refers a set of FDA approved drugs as repurposed compounds with potential action on the viral mechanism of SARS-CoV-2. In Colombia some of those substances are currently commercialized as antivirals and antiparasitic over-the-counter drugs, while other drugs also in the panorama are unavailable but potentially accessible in the short term for treating the COVID-19 in Colombia, until a massive vaccination campaign can be deployed in the country.