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Expert Opin Pharmacother
. 2023 Mar 16.
doi: 10.1080/14656566.2023.2192866. Online ahead of print.
Montelukast as a potential treatment for COVID-19
Matthew W McCarthy 1
Affiliations
- PMID: 36927284
- DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2023.2192866
Abstract
Introduction: : Montelukast is a leukotriene inhibitor that is widely used to treat chronic asthma and allergic rhinitis. The drug interferes with molecular signaling pathways produced by leukotrienes in a variety of cells and tissues throughout the human body that lead to tightening of airway muscles, production of aberrant pulmonary fluid (airway edema), and in some cases, pulmonary inflammation.
Areas covered: : Montelukast has also been noted to have anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting it may have a role in the treatment of COVID-19, the disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which has been noted to induce misfiring of the immune system in some patients. A literature search of PubMed was performed to identify all relevant studies of montelukast and SARS-CoV-2 through January 27, 2023.
Expert opinion: : Montelukast has been the subject of small studies of SARS-CoV-2 and will be included in a large, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of outpatients with COVID-19 sponsored by the United States National Institutes of Health known as ACTIV-6. This paper reviews what is known about montelukast, an inexpensive, well-tolerated, widely-available medication, and examines the rationale for using this drug to potentially treat patients with COVID-19.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; allergic rhinitis; asthma; montelukast.