What are the main drugs under investigation that block
SARS-CoV-2 cell entry?
There are drugs that interfere with ACE2 and TMPRSS2, which are
molecules used by the virus to enter the cell.9,181For example, camostat mesylate is a clinically proven serine protease
inhibitor with affinity for TMPRSS2. It has shown activity against
SARS-CoV-2 in human lung Calu-3 cells.9 Several drugs
that target virus internalization are being investigated, including
chloroquine phosphate and hydroxychloroquine, which have shown limited
efficacy in humans and raised concerns due to side effects (see
questions below ).163,182 A combination of
cepharanthine (an anti-inflammatory alkaloid), selamectin (an avermectin
used as an anti-helminthic and parasiticide drug in veterinary medicine)
and mefloquine hydrochloride (used for the prophylaxis and treatment of
malaria),183 and meplazumab184(see questions below ), among others. Although still at the
experimental level, a clinical-grade human recombinant ACE2 has shown
efficacy to block SARS-CoV-2 growth in kidney epithelial cells (Vero
cells) (Figure. 1 ).185