Drug Discov Today . Developing new drugs that activate the protective arm of the renin-angiotensin system as a potential treatment for respiratory failure in COVID-19 patients

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Drug Discov Today


. 2021 Feb 17;S1359-6446(21)00076-3.
doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2021.02.010. Online ahead of print.
Developing new drugs that activate the protective arm of the renin-angiotensin system as a potential treatment for respiratory failure in COVID-19 patients


Mathilde Latil ¹ , Serge Camelo ¹ , Stanislas Veillet ¹ , Ren? Lafont ² , Pierre J Dilda ³



Affiliations

• PMID: 33609783
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2021.02.010

Abstract

COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has reached pandemic proportions with negative impacts on global health, the world economy and human society. The clinical picture of COVID-19, and the fact that Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a receptor of SARS-CoV-2, suggests that SARS-CoV-2 infection induces an imbalance in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). We review clinical strategies that are attempting to rebalance the RAS in COVID-19 patients by using ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, or agonists of angiotensin-II receptor type 2 or Mas receptor (MasR). We also propose that the new MasR activator BIO101, a pharmaceutical grade formulation of 20-hydroxyecdysone that has anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic and cardioprotective properties, could restore RAS balance and improve the health of COVID-19 patients who have severe pneumonia.