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Review Article

Repurposing Ruxolitinib in Combating COVID-19: A Mini-review

Author(s): Inshia Begum, Fathima Murthuza, Juwairiya Syed Iqbaluddin and Hafsah Fatima Arsal*

Volume 3, Issue 1, 2022

Published on: 14 December, 2021

Article ID: e141221198907 Pages: 5

DOI: 10.2174/0250688202666210715141439

open_access

Abstract

Background: The pandemic caused by Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), also known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Related Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), is believed to be one of the greatest threats to global health in the 21st century. Recent collective evidence has warranted Ruxolitinib as a potential agent in recovery. Ruxolitinib is a potent and selective inhibitor of Jack kinase (JAK) 1 and 2 with modest to marked selectivity against tyrosine kinase 2 and JAK3, respectively.

Objective: The review aims to outline the current evidence regarding the repurposed treatment for COVID- 19 and to give an insight into the clinical trials. There has been considerable interest in introducing existing therapeutic agents against COVID-19 to reduce the severity of illness and ease the burden on public healthcare systems.

Methods: A literature search was conducted using keywords like ‘Ruxolitinib trial’ and ‘COVID-19 Ruxolitinib’ on PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Cochrane databases to select research papers and articles on the topic published from January to October 2020. Inclusion criteria were restricted to articles on Ruxolitinib and COVID, whereas the exclusion criteria stipulated that any study done on COVID-19 involving mixed treatment regimen with Ruxolitinib and other drugs or any studies not pertinent to the purpose of the study were omitted.

Conclusion: Based on the successful outcomes of various researches conducted and clinical trials performed, the use of Ruxolitinib has shown significant improvement and faster clinical recovery among COVID-19 patients of varying severity of infection, advanced age and multiple comorbidities. This review provides an overview of various such studies with their promising outcomes.

Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, JAK1/2 inhibitors, Efficacy, Safety, Ruxolitinib, Coronavirus.

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