Prospect of Ion Channel Inhibitors and Cholesterol Lowering Drugs to Combat COVID-19

Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 and associated COVID-19 pandemic is a major global healthcare problem because there is no specific drug to combat the disease. Number of infection is piling up day by day in exponential rate creating new record every week. Entire world is looking for urgent remedy but till now there is no specific treatment available for COVID-19 patients. In this critical situation, although vaccination is in its way, drug repurposing is very important which may be useful to overcome the unprecedented situation of COVID-19 pandemic. Cholesterol lowering drugs like statin therapy may be an additional support to combat the disease. Hexamethylene amiloride which has shown its effect in blocking E protein ion channels of coronaviruses leading to inhibition of viral replication may be considered for investigative trial.