Remdesivir—Bringing Hope for COVID-19 Treatment
At the beginning of 2020, the world was swept with a wave of a new coronavirus disease, named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO 2). The causative agent of this infection is the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The data available on one of the promising thera...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-06-01
|
| Series: | Scientia Pharmaceutica |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-0532/88/2/29 |
| _version_ | 1827715198922784768 |
|---|---|
| author | Naser F. Al-Tannak Ladislav Novotny Adel Alhunayan |
| author_facet | Naser F. Al-Tannak Ladislav Novotny Adel Alhunayan |
| author_sort | Naser F. Al-Tannak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | At the beginning of 2020, the world was swept with a wave of a new coronavirus disease, named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO 2). The causative agent of this infection is the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The data available on one of the promising therapeutic agents—nucleotide analog remdesivir (Gilead Sciences number GS-5734)—were evaluated. These data were concerned with remdesivir activation from the prodrug to the active molecule—triphosphate containing 1′-cyano group and modified nucleobase. This triphosphate competes with the natural substrate adenosine triphosphate. Additionally, its mechanisms of action based on RNA and proofreading exonuclease inhibition, leading to the delayed RNA chain termination of infected cells, and basic pharmacological data were assessed. Additionally, the analytical determination of remdesivir and its metabolites in cells and body liquids and also some data from remdesivir use in other RNA infections—such as Ebola, Nipah virus infection, and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)—were summarized. More recent and more detailed data on the clinical use of remdesivir in COVID-19 were reported, showing the intensive efforts of clinicians and scientists to develop a cure for this new disease. Remdesivir as such represents one of the more promising alternatives for COVID-19 therapy, however the current understanding of this disease and the possible ways of dealing with it requires further investigation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:13:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-75dd201c020e411cb63452ebc3b54068 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0036-8709 2218-0532 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:13:03Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientia Pharmaceutica |
| spelling | doaj.art-75dd201c020e411cb63452ebc3b540682023-11-20T03:38:26ZengMDPI AGScientia Pharmaceutica0036-87092218-05322020-06-018822910.3390/scipharm88020029Remdesivir—Bringing Hope for COVID-19 TreatmentNaser F. Al-Tannak0Ladislav Novotny1Adel Alhunayan2Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 24923, Safat 13110, KuwaitDepartment of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 24923, Safat 13110, KuwaitSchool of Medicine, Health Science Center, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 24923, Safat 13110, KuwaitAt the beginning of 2020, the world was swept with a wave of a new coronavirus disease, named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO 2). The causative agent of this infection is the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The data available on one of the promising therapeutic agents—nucleotide analog remdesivir (Gilead Sciences number GS-5734)—were evaluated. These data were concerned with remdesivir activation from the prodrug to the active molecule—triphosphate containing 1′-cyano group and modified nucleobase. This triphosphate competes with the natural substrate adenosine triphosphate. Additionally, its mechanisms of action based on RNA and proofreading exonuclease inhibition, leading to the delayed RNA chain termination of infected cells, and basic pharmacological data were assessed. Additionally, the analytical determination of remdesivir and its metabolites in cells and body liquids and also some data from remdesivir use in other RNA infections—such as Ebola, Nipah virus infection, and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)—were summarized. More recent and more detailed data on the clinical use of remdesivir in COVID-19 were reported, showing the intensive efforts of clinicians and scientists to develop a cure for this new disease. Remdesivir as such represents one of the more promising alternatives for COVID-19 therapy, however the current understanding of this disease and the possible ways of dealing with it requires further investigation.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-0532/88/2/29remdesivirGS-5734COVID-19WHORNA-dependent RNA polymeraseendonuclease |
| spellingShingle | Naser F. Al-Tannak Ladislav Novotny Adel Alhunayan Remdesivir—Bringing Hope for COVID-19 Treatment Scientia Pharmaceutica remdesivir GS-5734 COVID-19 WHO RNA-dependent RNA polymerase endonuclease |
| title | Remdesivir—Bringing Hope for COVID-19 Treatment |
| title_full | Remdesivir—Bringing Hope for COVID-19 Treatment |
| title_fullStr | Remdesivir—Bringing Hope for COVID-19 Treatment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Remdesivir—Bringing Hope for COVID-19 Treatment |
| title_short | Remdesivir—Bringing Hope for COVID-19 Treatment |
| title_sort | remdesivir bringing hope for covid 19 treatment |
| topic | remdesivir GS-5734 COVID-19 WHO RNA-dependent RNA polymerase endonuclease |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-0532/88/2/29 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT naserfaltannak remdesivirbringinghopeforcovid19treatment AT ladislavnovotny remdesivirbringinghopeforcovid19treatment AT adelalhunayan remdesivirbringinghopeforcovid19treatment |