Lung Delivery Systems to Optimize Pharmacotherapy of COVID-19: A Concise Review
Mohsen Geza. Alrashedi *
Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Ahmed Geza. Alrashedi
Qassim University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Ahmed Shaker. Ali
Department of pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Ibrahim M. Ibrahim
Department of pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: COVID-19 is an ongoing viral pandemic caused by the SARS-COV-2 virus. Several drugs were repurposed for its management; however, most of these drugs were not ideal treatments by traditional methods of administration, whether given by injection or orally. This is due to many reasons including pharmacokinetic limitations or drug-induced adverse effects. There is an urgent need to develop these drugs to target the virus in the lung tissue through inhalation.
Objective: To address the gap in knowledge regarding efficacy and safety of pulmonary drug delivery of repurposed antiviral against COVID-19.
Findings: Ongoing trials for inhalable formulations of several drugs such as Niclosamide; Remdesivir, Hydroxychloroquine, and Azithromycin among others showed promising results.
Conclusion: The development of pharmaceutical forms for inhaled administration of antiviral and anti-inflammatory drugs is an important direction that needs more attention to achieve the optimal management of respiratory infectious diseases.
Keywords: COVID-19, antiviral drugs, pulmonary drug delivery, aerosol, niclosamide, remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin