COVID-19 and progress in therapeutic approaches: a narrative review

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), scientifically known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) has adversely affect the respiratory system of humans and badly crushed the economies of most developed countries. This study aims to investigate the current COVID-19 situation and therapeutic approaches including non-viral vaccines, efficacy, safety, their trials, dosage protocols and mass vaccination established for COVID-19. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and MEDLINE databases. The title of the research articles were reviewed first, followed by the abstracts and finally the complete studies. This review critically focuses on the damaging effects of COVID-19 and its mutations, multiple variants, pharmacological approaches, and mRNA vaccines. COVID-19 is an emerging new variant with a different mutation and altered genomic structure. Different pharmacological and therapeutic approaches (interferon, oligonucleotides, anti-viral drug molecules, antibody peptides) have been made so far to combat COVID-19. Interferons are employed in COVID-19 treatment approaches owing to the role of Type I interferons in COVID-19 pathogenesis. Along with these therapeutic methodologies, companies from all over the world participated in the run to develop a vaccine for COVID-19. Vaccines were developed in less than a year for vaccinating humans on a mass level for the first time in world history. These vaccines target structural components of the virus, such as membrane proteins with a spike protein. This article provides valuable information for researchers regarding COVID-19 and progress in therapeutic approaches. This article will serve as a hallmark for understanding the COVID-19 mutation mechanism and strategies to combat these mutation points.