key: cord-0758083-vubg0x9z
authors: Wang, Shanshan; Zeng, Xian; Wang, Yali; Zhao, Yufen; Chen, Weiping; Chen, Yu Zong
title: East meets West in COVID-19 therapeutics
date: 2020-06-09
journal: Pharmacol Res
DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105008
sha: 872ca78b1413cfb9ee3e28b0d87e35ccbddd066e
doc_id: 758083
cord_uid: vubg0x9z

nan

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assembly [1]. In recent COVID-19 target discovery investigations, some novel targets of high drug repurposing potential have been revealed by focusing on the COVID-19

interacting host proteins and infected host cell proteomics [2, 3] . In the COVID-19 therapeutics fields, traditional medicines have also been repurposed for COVID-19 treatment as recommended by the National Health Commission of China (NHCC) [4] , albeit without clear mechanistic knowledge and little clinical validation. The first multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial of a repurposed traditional medicine against COVID-19 has just been reported [5] . Questions arise regarding their scientific basis and, if founded, how the therapeutic mechanisms of this and other NHCC-recommended repurposed traditional medicines might differ from the targets of the COVID-19 therapeutics.

Mechanistic clues of these NHCC-recommended traditional medicines have been investigated by a multi-omics analysis of the targets of potent (≤1M) activities (henceforth named potent targets), particularly with respect to the clinical gene expression profiles of several inflammation-related diseases [6] . That analysis has indicated that the potent modulations of several inflammation-regulatory targets are possible mechanisms against COVID-19. It has also exposed the dual inflammation inhibitory (pro) and promoting (con) effects of these traditional medicines. The estimated percentages of the patients with the pro and con effects are 16%-32% and 7%-17% respectively, with the pro effect patients outnumbering the con effect patients by up to 25%. These indications are consistent with the reported clinical observations.

A multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial of the repurposed J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f this capsule outnumbers the estimated con effect patients by 25% [6] . Moreover, the estimated pro-inflammatory effects in 7%-17% patients are consistent with the reported pneumonitis and lung injury in the patients of interstitial lung diseases treated by kampo formulations (references in [6] ). 

There are no conflicts to declare.

There are no conflicts to declare. Table 1 The common targets of the NHCC-recommended traditional medicines and the two recent target discovery investigations of COVID-19 interacting host proteins and infected host cell proteomics. 

Candidate drugs against SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19

Proteomics of SARS-CoV-2-infected host cells reveals therapy targets

Research Team E-BMCoCIE, Promotive Association for M, Health C. A rapid advice guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infected pneumonia (standard version)

Efficacy and Safety of Lianhuaqingwen Capsules, a repurposed Chinese Herb

The pros and cons of traditional Chinese medicines in the treatment of COVID-19

We acknowledge the support from the Singapore Academic Funds (R-148-000-273-114).J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f