Potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 prodrugs activated by phosphorylation and their role in the aged population

The COVID-19 pandemic has flared across every part of the globe and affected populations from different age groups differently. People aged from 40 to 80 years or older are at an increased risk of morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19. Therefore, there is an urgent requirement to develop therapeutics to decrease the risk of the disease in the aged population. Over the last few years, several prodrugs have demonstrated significant anti-SARS-CoV-2 effects in in vitro assays, animal models, and medical practice. Prodrugs are used to enhance drug delivery by improving pharmacokinetic parameters, decreasing toxicity, and attaining site specificity. This article discusses recently explored prodrugs such as remdesivir, molnupiravir, favipiravir, and 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) and their implications in the aged population, as well as investigating recent clinical trials.