Umifenovir
Umifenovir is an indole-based hydrophobic dual-acting direct
antiviral/host-targeting agent used for the treatment and prophylaxis of
influenza and other respiratory infections. It has been in use in the
treatment of influenza in China and Russia for so many years (Fink et
al., 2020; Pshenichnaya et al., 2019).
It has been reported to have inhibitory effects on a diverse array of
viruses, including DNA and RNA viruses (SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus) as
well as capsid and membrane-enclosed viruses (Fink et al., 2020;
Pshenichnaya et al., 2019). Umifenovir inhibits the entry of the
influenza virus at the late stage by binding directly to influenza
haemagglutinin (HA) and inhibiting its ability to transit to an
activated conformation. It also impairs fusion by intercalation into the
viral or target membrane, thereby rendering the membrane less yielding
for fusion.
Major adverse effect is hypersensitivity in children. It is administered
orally with an elimination half life of 17-21 hours (Fink et al., 2018;
Hulseberg et al., 2019).