Arbidol

Umifenovir is an indolyl carboxylic acid.|Umifenovir is an indole-based, hydrophobic, dual-acting direct antiviral/host-targeting agent used for the treatment and prophylaxis of influenza and other respiratory infections. It has been in use in Russia for approximately 25 years and in China since 2006. Its invention is credited to a collaboration between Russian scientists from several research institutes 40-50 years ago, and reports of its chemical synthesis date back to 1993. Umifenovir's ability to exert antiviral effects through multiple pathways has resulted in considerable investigation into its use for a variety of enveloped and non-enveloped RNA and DNA viruses, including Flavivirus, Zika virus, foot-and-mouth disease, Lassa virus, Ebola virus, herpes simplex,, hepatitis B and C viruses, chikungunya virus, reovirus, Hantaan virus, and coxsackie virus B5. This dual activity may also confer additional protection against viral resistance, as the development of resistance to umifenovir does not appear to be significant. Umifenovir is currently being investigated as a potential treatment and prophylactic agent for COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV2 infections in combination with both currently available and investigational HIV therapies.|Umifenovir is an orally bioavailable indole derivative, with broad-spectrum antiviral and potential anti-inflammatory activities. Upon oral administration, umifenovir inhibits the fusion of the viral envelope with host cell membrane, thereby blocking the entry of virus into host cells and preventing viral infection and replication. Umifenovir may also suppress the expression of the cytokines interleukin-1beta (IL-1b), IL-6, IL-12 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) and promote the expression of IL-10. This may reduce inflammation.