A promising antiviral candidate drug for the COVID-19 pandemic: A mini-review of remdesivir

Remdesivir (GS-5734), a viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) inhibitor that can be used to treat a variety of RNA virus infections, is expected to be an effective treatment for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. On May 1, 2020, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for remdesivir to treat COVID-19 patients. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, this review presents comprehensive information on remdesivir, including information regarding the milestones, intellectual properties, anti-coronavirus mechanisms, preclinical research and clinical trials, and in particular, the chemical synthesis, pharmacology, toxicology, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of remdesivir. Furthermore, perspectives regarding the use of remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19 are also discussed. • This article provides a comprehensive overview of remdesivir (GS-5734). • Remdesivir inhibits a variety of RNA viruses, including Coronaviridae , Filoviridae , Paramyxoviridae and Arenaviridae . • The remdesivir synthetic routes were comprehensively collected and are presented as a compilation of roadmaps. • The mechanism and clinical trial information of remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19 are summarized.