scholarly journals A narrative review of newly approved drugs for COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajmohan Seetharaman ◽  
Jaisen Lokhande
Keyword(s):  
Technical Assistance ◽  
Scientific Information ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Regulatory Authorities ◽  
Viral Structure ◽  
The World ◽  
Approved Drugs ◽  
Regulatory Flexibility

COVID-19 disease is swiftly spreading over the globe. There were no specific approved drugs or therapies at the start of the pandemic. Hence, the management of these patients involves optimized supportive care. Researchers worldwide are analyzing the viral structure viruses pathophysiology to develop new drugs and repurpose the currently approved drugs. Regulatory authorities worldwide, such as the USFDA, EMA, CDSCO, etc. are working closely with these scientists. They are expediting their efforts by providing advice, technical assistance, regulatory flexibility, and leveraging on scientific information from the trials conducted across various parts of the globe. These efforts have led to emergency use authorizations and restricted emergency use approvals of a few drugs, namely remdesivir, favipiravir, and 2% propofol emulsion for use in COVID-19 patients. The USFDA has revoked the approval of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. Many more new drugs are in the pipeline for their antiviral or immunomodulatory or other supportive mechanisms of action. These drugs are under the radar of regulatory authorities who are monitoring their efficacy and safety firmly as the world hopes to find a solution to combat this pandemic.

Anti-Malarial Drug Resistance

2022 ◽  
pp. 233-250
Author(s):  
Manish Kumar Dwivedi ◽  
Prashant Kumar Singh
Keyword(s):  
Natural Products ◽  
Protozoan Parasite ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Infected Female ◽  
Traditional Medicines ◽  
Anopheles Mosquitoes ◽  
Synthetic Drugs ◽  
Life Threatening

Malaria is a life-threatening infectious disease caused by a protozoan parasite of the genus Plasmodium. It is transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. The global burden is estimated to be around 219 million cases in 87 countries. Natural compounds have been used primarily in the traditional medicine for thousands of years. For the treatment of malaria, natural products were used until the development of synthetic drugs, and most of the currently available anti-malarial drugs have been derived based on the compounds from these traditional medicinal plants. The current chapter tries to briefly indicate the emerging resistance against anti-malarial drugs and to discuss the recent research on natural products that have been evaluated for anti-malarial activity. Rigorous evaluation of the efficacy and safety of traditional medicines is required along with identification of active constituents in order to develop new drugs with novel mechanisms of action.

Classification of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Treatments and Drugs Based on Mechanism of Action, Efficacy, and Safety

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahi Ravi ◽  
William Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Mechanism Of Action ◽  
Death Rate ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Novel Drugs ◽  
The Us ◽  
Approved Drugs ◽  
Fda Approved Drugs

The recently discovered coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has forced countries into lockdown, people into quarantines, and economies to a standstill. Currently there are no FDA approved treatments for COVID-19, the disease caused by this new coronavirus strain. With over 2.8 million cases in the US as of July 3 and a death rate of approximately 5.9%, an effective treatment is urgently needed (Center for Disease Control [CDC], 2020). To date there are few comprehensive reviews of therapeutic options for COVID-19. Here we present the general types and mechanisms of action for drugs currently available or in rapid development. This paper highlights FDA approved drugs that can be repurposed and therefore used immediately to test for coronavirus efficacy as well as novel drugs and vaccines specifically targeted to COVID-19 vulnerabilities.

scholarly journals IN SILICO EVALUATION OF POTASSIUM USNATE

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 524-531
Author(s):  
MARCIO RENNAN SANTOS TAVARES ◽  
VITOR PRATES LORENZO TAVARES ◽  
MATEUS MATIUZZI DA COSTA ◽  
HELINANDO PEQUENO DE OLIVEIRA ◽  
EUGENIA CRISTINA GONCALVES PEREIRA
Keyword(s):  
In Silico ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Initial Screening ◽  
Antitumor Activities ◽  
The World ◽  
Approved Drugs ◽  
Viral Components ◽  
Therapeutic Alternatives

A new coronavirus appears in China in December 2019, subsequently threatening the world, it was identified as Covid-19. Its main symptomatic characteristic is directly linked to acute respiratory failure, however there are asymptomatic cases of the disease, mainly in the group not considered at risk. For the treatment of the disease a variety ofantiviral drugs have been tested, with conflicting results. The use of computer-assisted drugs is essential for the development of new therapeutic alternatives for various diseases, once they reduce the time consumed in the initial screening tests, in addition to determining the possible mechanisms of action and reducing toxicity. In our study, we evaluated the interaction of viral components of the coronavirus with potassium usnate, salt derived from lichenic origin and with proven antimicrobial and antitumor activities. Derived from ussic acid, potassium usnate showed low energy for complex formation, this interaction occurs between the usnate salt and the structures of proteinase 3CLpro and enzyme Mpro, all key parts of Covid-19. In addition, in order to prove in silico the use of potassium usnate, they were tested and compared with other approved drugs and candidates for clinical trials to combat the new coronavirus.

scholarly journals Novel Approaches Outside the Setting of Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma: The Case of Melflufen, Venetoclax, and Selinexor

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Sgherza ◽  
Paola Curci ◽  
Rita Rizzi ◽  
Pellegrino Musto
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Myeloma ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Proteasome Inhibitors ◽  
Genetic Alterations ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Immunomodulatory Agents ◽  
Aggressive Disease ◽  
Alternative Approaches

Although the survival rate of patients with multiple myeloma has significantly improved in the last years thanks to the introduction of various classes of new drugs, such as proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory agents, and monoclonal antibodies, the vast majority of these subjects relapse with a more aggressive disease due to the acquisition of further genetic alterations that may cause resistance to current salvage therapies. The treatment of these often “triple” (or even more) refractory patients remains challenging, and alternative approaches are required to overcome the onset of that resistance. Immunotherapies with novel monoclonal, drug-conjugated, or bi-specific antibodies, as well as the use of chimeric antigen receptor T cells, have been recently developed and are currently investigated. However, other non-immunologic therapeutic regimens based on melfluflen, venetoclax, or selinexor, three molecules with new mechanisms of action, have also shown promising results in the setting of relapsed/refractory myeloma. Here we report the most recent literature data regarding these three drugs, focusing on their efficacy and safety in multiple myeloma.

Anti-Malarial Drug Resistance

2020 ◽  
pp. 154-176
Author(s):  
Manish Kumar Dwivedi ◽  
Prashant Kumar Singh
Keyword(s):  
Natural Products ◽  
Protozoan Parasite ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Infected Female ◽  
Traditional Medicines ◽  
Anopheles Mosquitoes ◽  
Synthetic Drugs ◽  
Life Threatening

Malaria is a life-threatening infectious disease caused by a protozoan parasite of the genus Plasmodium. It is transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. The global burden is estimated to be around 219 million cases in 87 countries. Natural compounds have been used primarily in the traditional medicine for thousands of years. For the treatment of malaria, natural products were used until the development of synthetic drugs, and most of the currently available anti-malarial drugs have been derived based on the compounds from these traditional medicinal plants. The current chapter tries to briefly indicate the emerging resistance against anti-malarial drugs and to discuss the recent research on natural products that have been evaluated for anti-malarial activity. Rigorous evaluation of the efficacy and safety of traditional medicines is required along with identification of active constituents in order to develop new drugs with novel mechanisms of action.

New Drugs, Therapeutic Strategies, and Future Direction for the Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (16) ◽  
pp. 2844-2864 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Mercurio ◽  
Anna Bianco ◽  
Giacomo Campi ◽  
Alessandra Cuomo ◽  
Nermin Diab ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Investigational Drugs ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial ◽  
Future Direction ◽  
Approved Drugs

Despite recent advances in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) treatment, this condition is still characterized by an extremely poor prognosis. In this review, we discuss the use of newly-approved drugs for PAH treatment with already known mechanisms of action (macitentan), innovative targets (riociguat and selexipag), and novel therapeutic approaches with initial up-front combination therapy. Secondly, we describe new potential signaling pathways and investigational drugs with promising role in the treatment of PAH.

scholarly journals Novelties in gout

2013 ◽  
Vol 141 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 109-115
Author(s):  
Marija Radak-Perovic ◽  
Mirjana Zlatkovic-Svenda
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Interleukin 1 ◽  
Late Phase ◽  
Gouty Arthritis ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Dietary Recommendations ◽  
Approved Drugs

Chronic asymptomatic hyperuratemia (HUA), gout paroxysm in patients with chronic hyperuratemia (HU) and normouricemic attacks of gouty arthritis are well known, but poorly understood. A review of the current literature with attempt of its explanation is presented. The natural course of gout is associated with joint structure changes that may be evaluated by different imaging techniques; comparative advantages and shortcomings of each technique are presented. For almost over 50 years the market has not offered new drugs for the control of HU and gout, while management of such patients was a rather neglected field. Over the last five years an unpredictable number of prospective clinical studies have been conducted involving the investigation of the efficacy and safety of new drugs to control HU (febuxostat, pegloticase). The return of pharmaceutical industry into the world of gout has considerably changed the picture. New recommendations have been presented on appropriate colchicine dose regime for acute gouty flares. Emerging therapies, including pegloticase, uricosuric agent RDEA596 and the interleukin -1 inhibitors have shown promises in early and late phase clinical trials. Each of them deserves to be considered for implementation and feasibility in clinical practice as well as outcome measures for clinical trials. Another purpose of this review was to summarize new knowledge on approved drugs to treat hyperuricemia, or the clinical manifestations of gout. Results of several clinical trials provide new data on the efficacy and safety of the approved urate lowering drugs (allopurinol and febuxostat). Lifestyle and dietary recommendations for gout patients should take into consideration overall health benefits and risks, since gout is often associated with metabolic syndrome and an increased future risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. This review also summarizes the recent data about lifestyle factors that influence serum uric acid levels and the gout risk, and attempts to provide holistic recommendations, considering both their impact on gout as well as on other health implications.

Antimicrobial Peptides and their Multiple Effects at Sub-Inhibitory Concentrations

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (14) ◽  
pp. 1264-1273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Casciaro ◽  
Floriana Cappiello ◽  
Walter Verrusio ◽  
Mauro Cacciafesta ◽  
Maria Luisa Mangoni
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Peptides ◽  
Inhibitory Concentration ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Lead Compounds ◽  
Bacterial Pathogenicity ◽  
Growth Inhibitory ◽  
Resistant Strains ◽  
Conventional Antibiotics

The frequent occurrence of multidrug-resistant strains to conventional antimicrobials has led to a clear decline in antibiotic therapies. Therefore, new molecules with different mechanisms of action are extremely necessary. Due to their unique properties, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent a valid alternative to conventional antibiotics and many of them have been characterized for their activity and cytotoxicity. However, the effects that these peptides cause at concentrations below the minimum growth inhibitory concentration (MIC) have yet to be fully analyzed along with the underlying molecular mechanism. In this mini-review, the ability of AMPs to synergize with different antibiotic classes or different natural compounds is examined. Furthermore, data on microbial resistance induction are reported to highlight the importance of antibiotic resistance in the fight against infections. Finally, the effects that sub-MIC levels of AMPs can have on the bacterial pathogenicity are summarized while showing how signaling pathways can be valid therapeutic targets for the treatment of infectious diseases. All these aspects support the high potential of AMPs as lead compounds for the development of new drugs with antibacterial and immunomodulatory activities.

scholarly journals One-Shot Fabrication of Polymeric Hollow Microneedles by Standard Photolithography

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Principia Dardano ◽  
Selene De Martino ◽  
Mario Battisti ◽  
Bruno Miranda ◽  
Ilaria Rea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Light Propagation ◽  
World Market ◽  
Emerging Technology ◽  
Standard Formulation ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Fabrication Technique ◽  
The World ◽  
Small Doses ◽  
Approved Drugs ◽  
Hollow Microneedles

Microneedles (MNs) are an emerging technology in pharmaceutics and biomedicine, and are ready to be commercialized in the world market. However, solid microneedles only allow small doses and time-limited administration rates. Moreover, some well-known and already approved drugs need to be re-formulated when supplied by MNs. Instead, hollow microneedles (HMNs) allow for rapid, painless self-administrable microinjection of drugs in their standard formulation. Furthermore, body fluids can be easily extracted for analysis by a reverse use of HMNs, thus making them perfect for sensing issues and theranostics applications. The fabrication of HMNs usually requires several many-step processes, increasing the costs and consequently decreasing the commercial interest. Photolithography is a well-known fabrication technique in microelectronics and microfluidics that fabricates MNs. In this paper, authors show a proof of concept of a patented, easy and one-shot fabrication of two kinds of HMNs: (1) Symmetric HMNs with a “volcano” shape, made by using a photolithographic mask with an array of transparent symmetric rings; and (2) asymmetric HMNs with an oblique aperture, like standard hypodermic steel needles, made by using an array of transparent asymmetric rings, defined by two circles, which centers are slightly mismatched. Simulation of light propagation, fabrication process, and preliminary results on ink microinjection are presented.

scholarly journals Mining of high throughput screening database reveals AP-1 and autophagy pathways as potential targets for COVID-19 therapeutics

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hu Zhu ◽  
Catherine Z. Chen ◽  
Srilatha Sakamuru ◽  
Jinghua Zhao ◽  
Deborah K. Ngan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Cytopathic Effect ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Activity Profile ◽  
Pathway Activity ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Approved Drugs

AbstractThe recent global pandemic of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 presents an urgent need for the development of new therapeutic candidates. Many efforts have been devoted to screening existing drug libraries with the hope to repurpose approved drugs as potential treatments for COVID-19. However, the antiviral mechanisms of action of the drugs found active in these phenotypic screens remain largely unknown. In an effort to deconvolute the viral targets in pursuit of more effective anti-COVID-19 drug development, we mined our in-house database of approved drug screens against 994 assays and compared their activity profiles with the drug activity profile in a cytopathic effect (CPE) assay of SARS-CoV-2. We found that the autophagy and AP-1 signaling pathway activity profiles are significantly correlated with the anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity profile. In addition, a class of neurology/psychiatry drugs was found to be significantly enriched with anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity. Taken together, these results provide new insights into SARS-CoV-2 infection and potential targets for COVID-19 therapeutics, which can be further validated by in vivo animal studies and human clinical trials.

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