Identification of Antiviral Drug Candidates against SARS-CoV-2 from FDA-Approved Drugs

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2020 Jun 23;64(7):e00819-20. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00819-20. Print 2020 Jun 23.

Abstract

Drug repositioning is the only feasible option to immediately address the COVID-19 global challenge. We screened a panel of 48 FDA-approved drugs against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which were preselected by an assay of SARS-CoV. We identified 24 potential antiviral drug candidates against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Some drug candidates showed very low 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s), and in particular, two FDA-approved drugs-niclosamide and ciclesonide-were notable in some respects.

Keywords: COVID-19; FDA-approved drug; SARS-CoV-2.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • Betacoronavirus / drug effects*
  • COVID-19
  • Cell Line
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy*
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / methods
  • Drug Repositioning*
  • Humans
  • Niclosamide / pharmacology*
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / drug therapy*
  • Pregnenediones / pharmacology*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Vero Cells

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Pregnenediones
  • Niclosamide
  • ciclesonide