Ozlem Altay,1,7 Elyas Mohammadi,1,2,7 Simon Lam,3 Hasan Turkez,4 Jan Boren,5 Jens Nielsen,6 Mathias Uhlen,1 and Adil Mardinoglu1,3,8,*

Abstract

The rapid and global spread of a new human coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has produced an immediate urgency to discover promising targets for the treatment of COVID-19. Drug repositioning is an attractive approach that can facilitate the drug discovery process by repurposing existing pharmaceuticals to treat illnesses other than their primary indications. Here, we review current information concerning the global health issue of COVID-19 including promising approved drugs and ongoing clinical trials for prospective treatment options. In addition, we describe computational approaches to be used in drug repurposing and highlight examples of in silico studies of drug development efforts against SARS-CoV-2.

1 Science for Life Laboratory, KTH – Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm 17121, Sweden

2 Department of Animal Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad 9177948974, Iran

3 Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, UK

4 Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Atatu¨ rk University, Erzurum 25240, Turkey

5 Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, University of Gothenburg, The Wallenberg Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg 41345, Sweden

6 Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-Gothenburg, 41296, Sweden

7 These authors contributed equally

8 Lead Contact *Correspondence: adilm@scilifelab.se https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2020.101303

Source: Cell Press