Severe acute respiratory syndrome‐coronavirus‐2: Current advances in therapeutic targets and drug development

Summary The current pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome‐coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) has quickly emerged as a global health concern with government bodies worldwide taking drastic control measures. Understanding the virology of SARS‐CoV‐2, its molecular mechanisms, and its pathogenesis are required for a targeted therapeutic approach. In this review, we highlight the current molecular and drug advances that target SARS‐CoV‐2 at the genome level. We also summarize studies that therapeutically target the host angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 and proteases. Finally, we summarize antibody‐mediated therapeutic approaches, as well as recent trends in vaccine development. Hence, the purpose of this study is to investigate different molecular targets in SARS‐CoV‐2 pathogenesis and their usefulness in developing strategies for drug development.