COVID-19 is a pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which is a severe acute respiratory syndrome. The devastating impact of this novel coronavirus outbreak has necessitated the need for rapid and effective antiviral therapies against SARS-CoV-2 to control the spread of the disease and importantly, alleviate the severe life-threatening symptoms and disorders. Drug repurposing strategy offers an attractive, immediate and realistic approach to tackle this growing pandemic of COVID-19. Due to the similarities with the SARS-CoV-1 virus and phylogenetic relation to the MERS-CoV virus, accelerated screening of approved drugs and the development of repositioning strategies have proved to be critical for the survival of many COVID-19 patients. Numerous scientific investigations from the initial years of the coronavirus outbreak along with upcoming advances of immunotherapy and vaccines, may prove to be beneficial. Currently, several repurposing strategies are under different phases of clinical trials and provide a definitive framework for the development of future therapies for the effective treatment of COVID-19. This review article summarizes the latest developments and trends in drug repurposing strategy for COVID-19 treatment.

COVID-19是由新型冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）引起的大流行病，它是一种严重的急性呼吸系统综合症。这种新的冠状病毒爆发的毁灭性影响，需要针对SARS-CoV-2的快速有效的抗病毒治疗，以控制疾病的传播，重要的是减轻严重的威胁生命的症状和疾病。药物再利用战略提供了一种有吸引力的，即时的和现实的方法来应对这种日益增长的COVID-19流行病。由于其与SARS-CoV-1病毒的相似性以及与MERS-CoV病毒的系统发育关系，因此加速筛选批准的药物和制定重新定位策略已被证明对许多COVID-19患者的生存至关重要。冠状病毒爆发初期的许多科学研究以及即将到来的免疫疗法和疫苗的进步可能被证明是有益的。当前，几种用途广泛的策略处于临床试验的不同阶段，它们为开发有效治疗COVID-19的未来疗法提供了明确的框架。这篇综述文章总结了COVID-19治疗的药物再利用策略的最新发展和趋势。