Antiviral therapy for COVID-19 refers to pharmacological agents that interfere with the replication cycle of SARS-CoV-2, the betacoronavirus responsible for the disease, rather than merely managing its symptoms. These therapies act at distinct stages of the viral life cycle: blocking host-cell entry mediated by the …
Antiviral therapy for COVID-19 refers to pharmacological agents that interfere with the replication cycle of SARS-CoV-2, the betacoronavirus responsible for the disease, rather than merely managing its symptoms. These therapies act at distinct stages of the viral life cycle: blocking host-cell entry mediated by the spike glycoprotein and ACE2 receptor, inhibiting the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, or interrupting proteolytic processing by the main protease. In the early pandemic, repurposed compounds such as chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine were evaluated for their effects on viral kinetics and clinical recovery, alongside immunomodulatory strategies including interferon-gamma administration and cell-based approaches intended to temper the dysregulated host response. Antiviral selection is shaped by timing, since direct-acting agents are most effective during the active replication phase before immunopathology predominates, and by the distinction between agents that suppress the virus and those that modulate spike-protein-driven cytokine and interferon signalling. The International Journal of Coronaviruses publishes peer-reviewed research in this area, including studies of SARS-CoV-2 viral kinetics under chloroquine regimens, hydroxychloroquine outcomes in hospitalised cohorts, immune-modulator use, and the broader context of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. The field remains central to coronavirus medicine because effective antiviral intervention can reduce disease severity, shorten infectious periods, and limit progression to critical illness.
12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 12 articles above have been cited 25 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Antiviral Therapy and Covid, linking to each citing work.