Drug Candidates for Covid-19 Treatment in Brazil
Background: COVID-19 has emerged worldwide in less than 6 months, leaving millions of deaths behind. While scientist search for new drugs, an old arsenal has been proposed as a form of treatment. Objective: This article was designed as a literature review, scrutinizing antiparasitic chloroquine, ivermectin, nitazoxanide; and also glucocorticoids, as candidates to be applied in patients with COVID-19 in some Brazilian hospitals. Methodology: clinical evidence of COVID-infected patients and literature consultation have been accomplished for the construction of this article. On line searches and gray literature have also been consulted, whose database include PUBMED Central, BVS/BIREME, Web of Science, Science Direct, Higher Level Personnel Improvement Coordinator (CAPES), Periodic Door (Portal de Periódicos da CAPES, The Cochrane Library and PROSPERO). Results: chloroquine, ivermectin and nitazoxanide do present antiviral characteristics to support their usage in phase 1 of COVID-19 symptoms. Glucocorticoids, especially methylprednisolone and dexamethasone, seem to be efficient in patients with pulmonary symptoms, such as those present in phase 2B and 3 of the disease. Conclusion: After analyzing the literature, antiparasitic agents constitute a promising approach for patients with COVID-19. However, their usage seems to be efficient in the very beginning of the symptoms. Methylprednisolone and dexamethasone are best indicated for hospitalized patients with pulmonary commitment.