MERS Coronavirus: Drug Therapy

Therapeutic targets

• Symptom relief
• Treat complications and respiratory insufficiency (inadequate breathing resulting in inadequate gas exchange).
• Prevent the spread of infection

Therapy recommendations

• There is currently no specific antiviral therapy.
• If necessary, treatment attempt with
  • Intravenous (“into the vein“) ribavirin (nucleoside analogue / virostatic, drugs that inhibit the multiplication of viruses) and interferon alfa-2b.
  • Lopinavir/ritonavir – significantly reduced mortality (death rate) in a randomized trial when treatment was combined early with interferon beta-1b
• Balance acid-base balance and electrolytes.
• If necessary, ventilation
• In case of superinfection (secondary infection), antibiosis (antibiotic therapy) is performed.