A REVIEW ON PHARMACOLOGICAL TARGETS FOR TREATMENT OF COVID-19 INFECTION

Abstract

The sudden outbreak SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan, China, which rapidly grew into a global pandemic, marked the third
introduction of a virulent coronavirus into the human society, affecting not only the healthcare system, but also the
global economy. In this article, we present a succinct overview of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and targets of
SARS-CoV-2. In the past 14 years, the onset of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle
East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have thrust HCoVs into spotlight of the research community due to
their high pathogenicity in humans. The study of Human coronavirus (HCoV) host interactions has contributed
extensively to our understanding of HCoV pathogenesis. We systematize the current clinical trials that have been rapidly
initiated after the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.