Advances in treatment strategies for COVID-19: Insights from other coronavirus diseases and prospects

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is the third human disease outbreak caused by an emerging coronavirus in the 21st century. Caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the COVID-19 pandemic has been the most devastating, with millions of deaths. Medical countermeasures are needed to limit the number of infections and fatalities. Here, we discuss advances in clinical and research-based treatment methods for SARS-CoV-2 that were initially derived from treatments for other coronaviruses. Recent advances in SARS-CoV-2 treatments, from traditional drugs and immunotherapies to artificial intelligence to predict potential future treatment methods, are summarized and discussed.