Potenciais agentes antivirais contra monkeypox: uma revisão da literatura

Abstract

The Monkeypox virus (MPXV), a member of the Poxviridae family and the Orthopoxvirus genus (OPV), is genetically related to the human smallpox virus and is responsible for characterizing a disease marked by febrile events and skin eruptions. Before, identified only in the African continent, it highlighted the last years due to the registration of cases in western countries. In this sense, preventive means, based on vaccines, are used in Europe and part of North America, including ACAM2000 and JYNNEOS, both of which are indicated as prophylaxis in pre-exposure to the virus. On the other hand, antivirals such as tecovirimat and brincidovir, an inhibitor of extracellular virus formation and a cidofovir lipid conjugate, respectively, are important in cases of immunocompromised patients and those at risk of acquiring serious diseases. Furthermore, through drug repositioning studies, some viral agents have demonstrated positive results against Monkeypox including compounds such as simeprevir, hypericin, naldemedin, phosdagrocorate, lixivaptam and NIOCH-14. Therefore, these compounds have shown to be potential agents against monkeypox virus, being interesting candidates for the treatment of this virus disease, and contributing to its therapeutic arsenal, which is currently scarce.