Suggested Actions
The following is a non-exhaustive list of suggested studies that could be considered at this point:
  1. Confirmatory pharmacokinetic and toxicological studies of oral tetrandrine
  2. A clinical trial to investigate tetrandrine’s potential, using a standard oral dose, as an acute therapeutic or prophylactic agent against SARS-CoV-2 infection, provided safety can be confirmed for the particular length of use
  3. In vitro investigations to assess the potential of other calcium channel blockers known to block TPCs, such as nifedipine or verapamil, to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus replication
  4. If indicated by (3), a clinical trial to investigate the potential role of clinically established calcium channel blockers such as nifedipine or verapamil as therapeutic agents in SARS-CoV-2 infection
  5. A retrospective analysis of the relative outcomes of COVID-19 patients already on CCBs
  6. In vitro investigations to assess the potential of analogues of Ned-19 and other chemicals with expected specificity as TPC inhibitors to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus replication
  7. An autopsy toxicology study to assess tetrandrine (or other calcium channel blocker) concentration in human lung tissue in patients prescribed these drugs during life