With Omicron spreading at an alarming rate and the global deaths from COVID-19 now well over 5 million, the hunt for effective treatments against COVID-19 is becoming ever-more urgent.

Scientists have considered many drugs, but few have realized any early promise. Even molnupiravir, hailed by many as a COVID-19 game-changer, does not seem to be living up to the hype. In clinical trials, the real-world efficacy in preventing severe COVID-19 symptoms is significantly lowerTrusted Source than initial trials suggested.

Monoclonal antibodies have some clinical benefits in preventing severe COVID-19 symptoms, but healthcare professionals have to administer them intravenously. In severely ill patients on ventilators, dexamethasone, an oral steroid, can reduce deaths from COVID-19 by up to a third.

So the search is still on for effective oral treatments that can prevent or minimize symptoms. Many researchers are testing licensed drugs that they might be able to repurpose to treat or prevent COVID-19.