EFFECTS OF ANTIVIRAL DRUGS ON COVID-19 TREATMENT

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) can target specific receptors on the cell surface and enter human host cells, causing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Since SARS and COVID-19 have the same receptor blood angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), it is possible to apply the research on SARS to the treatment of COVID-19. In this work, via a mathematical model describing the interactions among uninfected healthy cells, infected cells and SARS-CoV-2, we analyze the effect of antiviral drugs on COVID-19 treatment. For two commonly used forms of drug intake, periodic and impulsive forms of drug intake, we identify the basic reproduction number R0 and study its relation to drug intake parameters and to the COVID-19 infection state. Our findings provide some interesting insights on COVID-19 treatment strategies.