Characteristics of sars-coV-2 and covid-19

 MICRObIOlOgy
R e v i e w s
 
volume 19 | march 2021 | 
149

---

respectively
140
. However, this study did not include 
a control arm, and most of the trials of favilavir were 
based on a small sample size. For more reliable assess-
ment of the effectiveness of favilavir for treating
COVID-19, large- scale randomized controlled trials 
should be conducted.
Lopinavir and ritonavir were reported to have 
in vitro inhibitory activity against SARS- CoV and 
MERS- CoV
141
,
142
. Alone, the combination of lopinavir 
and ritonavir had little therapeutic benefit in patients 
with COVID-19, but appeared more effective when used 
in combination with other drugs, including ribavirin and 
interferon beta-1b
143
,
144
. The Randomized Evaluation of 
COVID-19 Therapy (RECOVERY) trial, a national clin-
ical trial programme in the UK, has stopped treatment 
with lopinavir and ritonavir as no significant beneficial 
effect was observed in a randomized trial established in 
March 2020 with a total of 1,596 patients
145
. Nevertheless, 
Convalescent plasma
Neutralizing antibodies help 
clear virus and infected cells
Dexamethasone
Inhibits inflammatory cytokines 
and neutrophil infiltration
Tocilizumab or sarilumab
•
Binds IL-6 specifically
•
Inhibits IL-6 signalling
Arbidol
Inhibits S–ACE2 interaction 
and membrane fusion
Interferon
Expression
of ISGs
Fusion inhibitor: 
EK1C4/HR2P
Inhibits membrane fusion
Lopinavir or ritonavir
Inhibits 3CLpro
Remdesivir, ribavarin 
or favipiravir
Inhibits RdRp