Elsevier

Antiviral Research

Volume 178, June 2020, 104791
Antiviral Research

Short Communication
Type 1 interferons as a potential treatment against COVID-19

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104791Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Interferon treatment has shown mixed efficiency against SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV.

  • SARS-CoV-2 is probably more sensitive to interferon than the other coronaviruses.

  • The IFNβ subtype appears to be the most suited for COVID-19 treatment.

  • Interferon treatment should be performed in the early stages of the infection.

  • Investigation on interferon-based COVID-19 treatment is warranted.

Abstract

Type 1 interferons have a broad antiviral activity in vitro and are currently evaluated in a clinical trial to treat MERS-CoV. In this review, we discuss preliminary data concerning the potential activity of type 1 interferons on SARS-CoV-2, and the relevance of evaluating these molecules in clinical trials for the treatment of COVID-19.

Keywords

Interferon
COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2

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