Table 2 Summary of existing antiviral treatments
From: Effectiveness of potential antiviral treatments in COVID-19 transmission control: a modelling study
No. | Author | Year | Title | Antiviral treatment | Clinical efficacy | Statistical significance | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Wang M-L, Cao R-Y, Zhang L-K, et al. | 2020 | Remdesivir and chloroquine effectively inhibit the recently emerged novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in vitro | Remdesivir | Remdesivir can reduce the infectivity of COVID-19 patients | Yes | 1) Reducing transmission (β) |
2 | Wang M-L, Cao R-Y, Zhang L-K, et al. | 2020 | Remdesivir and chloroquine effectively inhibit the recently emerged novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in vitro | Chloroquine | Chloroquine has certain antiviral activity and can synergize with Remdesivir in the body to enhance its antiviral effect | Yes | 1) Reducing transmission (β) |
3 | Gautret P, Lagier J-C, Honore S, et al. | 2020 | Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin as a treatment of COVID-19: results of an open-label non-randomized clinical trial | Hydroxychloroquine | The average survival time of viral vectors in the treatment group was shorter than that in the control group | Yes | 2) Decreasing the infectiousness of I and A (1/γ and 1/γ’); |
4 | Million M, Lagier J-C, Gautret P, et al. | 2020 | Early treatment of COVID-19 patients with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin: a retrospective analysis of 1061 cases in Marseille | Hydroxychloroquine + Azithromycin | The combined medication can shorten the course of the patient’s disease, and 91.7% of the patients successfully cleared the virus within 10 days | Yes | 2) Decreasing the infectiousness of I and A (1/γ and 1/γ’); |
5 | Chen Z-W, Hu J-J, Zhang Z-W, et al. | 2020 | Efficacy of hydroxychloroquine in patients with COVID-19: results of a randomized clinical trial | Hydroxychloroquine | The recovery time of body temperature and cough relief in treatment group were significantly shortened | Yes | 2) Decreasing the infectiousness of I and A (1/γ and 1/γ’); |
6 | Bian H-J, Zheng Z-H, Wei D, et al. | 2020 | Meplazumab treats COVID-19 pneumonia: an open-labelled, concurrent controlled add-on clinical trial | Meplazumab | The virus clearance time of the treatment group and control group was 3 days (1.5–4.5) and 13 days (6.5–19.5), respectively | Yes | 2) Decreasing the infectiousness of I and A (1/γ and 1/γ’); |
7 | Cai Q-X, Yang M-H, Liu D-J, et al. | 2020 | Experimental Treatment with Favipiravir for COVID-19: An Open-Label Control Study | Favipiravir | The median duration of the disease in the treatment group was 4 days (2.5–9) while the control group was 11 days (8–13) | Yes | 2) Decreasing the infectiousness of I and A (1/γ and 1/γ’); |
8 | Beigel J-H, Tomashek K-M, Dodd L-E | 2020 | Remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19—preliminary report | Remdesivir | The recovery time of hospitalized patients who need oxygen therapy has been shortened from 15 to 11 days after using Remdesivir | Yes | 2) Decreasing the infectiousness of I and A (1/γ and 1/γ’); |
9 | Gao J-J, Tian Z-X, Yang X | 2020 | Breakthrough: Chloroquine phosphate has shown apparent efficacy in treatment of COVID-19 associated pneumonia in clinical studies | Chloroquine phosphate | The duration of the disease in the treatment group was shortened | Yes | 2) Decreasing the infectiousness of I and A (1/γ and 1/γ’); |
10 | Deftereos S-G, Giannopoulos G, Vrachatis D-A, et al. | 2020 | Effect of Colchicine vs Standard Care on Cardiac and Inflammatory Biomarkers and Clinical Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized With Coronavirus Disease 2019 | Colchicine | The clinical deterioration time of the treatment group was significantly improved | Yes | 2) Decreasing the infectiousness of I and A (1/γ and 1/γ’); |
11 | Cai Q-X, Yang M-H, Liu D-J, et al. | 2020 | Experimental treatment with favipiravir for COVID-19: An open-label control study | Favipiravir | The case fatality rate of the treatment group has decreased | Yes | 3) Reducing the fatality rate of severely ill patients (fc) |
12 | Horby P, Lim W-S, Mafham M, et al. | 2020 | Dexamethasone in Hospitalized Patients with Covid-19—Preliminary Report | Dexamethasone | The use of dexamethasone has reduced the death number of COVID-19 patients who use breathing machine by one third | Yes | 3) Reducing the fatality rate of severely ill patients (fc) |
13 | Xu X-L, Han M-F, Li T-T, et al. | 2020 | Effective treatment of severe COVID-19 patients with tocilizumab | Tobiximab, Interferon α-2b | Tobiximab can improve the clinical symptoms of severe or critical COVID-19 patients, and Interferon α-2b can improve the survival rate of patients | Yes | 3) Reducing the fatality rate of severely ill patients (fc) |
14 | Pereda R, Daniel González D, Rivero H, et al. | 2020 | Therapeutic effectiveness of interferon-alpha 2b against COVID-19: the Cuban experience | Interferon α-2b | The cure rate in the treatment group (95.4%) is higher than the cure rate in the control group (26.1%) | Yes | 3) Reducing the fatality rate of severely ill patients (fc) |
15 | Beigel J-H, Tomashek K-M, Dodd L-E | 2020 | Remdesivir for the Treatment of COVID-19 — Preliminary Report | Remdesivir | The recovery time of the treatment group was 11 days while the control group was 15 days; and the case fatality rate of the treatment group was lower | Yes | 2) Decreasing the infectiousness of I and A (1/γ and 1/γ’); 3) reducing the fatality rate of severely ill patients (fc) |
16 | Kalil A-C, Patterson T-F, Mehta A-K, et al. | 2021 | Baricitinib plus Remdesivir for Hospitalized Adults with Covid-19 | Baricitinib, Remdesivir | Combination medication could shorten the recovery time and reduce the 28-day mortality rate | Yes | 2) Decreasing the infectiousness of I and A (1/γ and 1/γ’); 3) Reducing the fatality rate of severely ill patients (fc) |
17 | Chen C, Zhang Y, Huang J-Y, et al. | 2020 | Favipiravir versus Arbidol for COVID-19: A Randomized Clinical Trial | Uminovir, Favipiravir | The 7-day clinical recovery rate was 55.9% in the group of umminovir, and 71% in the group of favipiravir | Yes | 2) Decreasing the infectiousness of I and A (1/γ and 1/γ’); 3) Reducing the fatality rate of severely ill patients (fc) |
18 | Tong S, Su Y, Yu Y, et al. | 2020 | Ribavirin therapy for severe COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study | Ribavirin | The recovery time of patients in the treatment group was 12.8 ± 4.1 days and that of control group was 14.1 ± 3.5 days. The case fatality rate in the treatment group was 17.1%, and the case fatality rate in the control group was 24.6% | Yes | 2) Decreasing the infectiousness of I and A (1/γ and 1/γ’); 3) Reducing the fatality rate of severely ill patients (fc) |
19 | Zhang Y-Tai, Louisa T, Goh R-M, et al. | 2020 | Mixed Chinese herbs and Western medicine for novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a mixed method review | Traditional Chinese medicine combined therapy | Traditional Chinese medicine combined treatment can improve symptoms, but there is no significant difference in admission time | No | Â |
20 | Wang Y-M, Zhang D-Y, Du G-H, et al. | 2020 | Remdesivir in adults with severe COVID-19: a randomised,double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial | Remdesivir | The recovery period and case fatality rate of the treatment group were different from those of the control group, but they were not statistically significant | No | Â |
21 | Chen J, Liu D, Liu L | 2020 | A pilot study of hydroxychloroquine in treatment of patients with common coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) | Hydroxychloroquine | There was no statistical difference between the treatment group and the control group in clearing the virus | No | Â |
22 | Tang W, Cao Z, Han M | 2020 | Hydroxychloroquine in patients mainly with mild to moderate COVID-19: an open-label, randomized, controlled trial | Hydroxychloroquine | There was no statistical difference between the treatment group and the control group in clearing the virus | No | Â |
23 | Boulware D-R, Pullen M-F, Bangdiwala A-S, et al. | 2020 | A randomized trial of hydroxychloroquine as postexposure prophylaxis for COVID-19 | Hydroxychloroquine | Hydroxychloroquine can not reduce virus activity | No | Â |
24 | Li Y-P, Xie Z-W, Lin W-Y, et al. | 2020 | An exploratory randomized, controlled study on the efficacy and safety of lopinavir/ritonavir or arbidol treating adult patients hospitalized with mild/moderate COVID-19 | Lopanovi | The case fatality rate and recovery time of the treatment group was lower than that of the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant | No | Â |
25 | Hung I-FN, Lung K-C, Tso E-YK, et al. | 2020 | Triple combination of interferon beta-1b, lopinavir–ritonavir, and ribavirin in the treatment of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19: an open-label, randomised, phase 2 trial | Ribavirin, Interferon β-1b, Lopinavir | The recovery time after the combination medication was shortened from 12 to 7 days, but the difference was not statistically significant | No |  |
26 | Cao B, Wang Y, Wen D, et al. | 2020 | A Trial of Lopinavir–Ritonavir in Adults Hospitalized with Severe Covid-19 | Lopinavir–Ritonavir | The case fatality rate of the treatment group was lower than that of the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant | No |  |
27 | Li Y-P, Xie Z-W, Lin W-Y, et al. | 2020 | Efficacy and Safety of Lopinavir/Ritonavir or Arbidol in Adult Patients with Mild/Moderate COVID-19: An Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial | Lopinavir/Ritonavir or Arbidol | Patients in the treatment group showed no significant improvement after treatment | No | Â |
28 | Tobaiqy M, Alhumaid S, Mutair A-A | 2020 | Efficacy and Safety of Lopinavir/Ritonavir for Treatment of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | Lopinavir–Ritonavir | Patients in the treatment group showed no significant improvement after treatment | No |  |