Development of Therapeutic and Prophylactic Zinc Compositions for Use against COVID-19: A Glimpse of the Trends, Inventions, and Patents

Abstract

Zinc is an essential nutrient for human health; it is involved in the catalytic, structural, and regulatory functions of the human cellular system. Different compositions of zinc, as well as its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, are available on the market. Recent studies have demonstrated the role of zinc in combating COVID-19. It has been determined that zinc prevents the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into cells by lowering the expression of ACE-2 receptors and inhibiting the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of SARS-CoV-2. Zinc also prevents the cytokine storm that takes place after the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into the cell, via its anti-inflammatory activity. The authors believe that no study has yet been published that has reviewed the trends, inventions, and patent literature of zinc compositions to treat/prevent COVID-19. Accordingly, this review has been written in order to fill this gap in the literature. The information about the clinical studies and the published patents/patent applications was retrieved from different databases. This review covers patent literature on zinc compositions up to 31 January 2022. Many important patents/patent applications for zinc-based compositions filed by innovative universities and industries were identified. The patent literature revealed zinc compositions in combination with zinc ionophores, antioxidants, antivirals, antibiotics, hydroxychloroquine, heparin, ivermectin, and copper. Most of these studies were supported by clinical trials. The patent literature supports the potential of zinc and its pharmaceutical compositions as possible treatments for COVID-19. The authors believe that countless zinc-based compositions are still unexplored, and there is an immense opportunity to evaluate a considerable number of the zinc-based compositions for use against COVID-19.

Selenium and COVID-19: A spotlight on the clinical trials, inventive compositions, and patent literature

“…The infection with SARS-CoV-2 (a RNA virus) causes contagious COVID-19, which has disastrously impacted the world’s demography [1] . The first case of COVID-19 emerged in December 2019, whereas the World Health Organization (WHO) announced it as a pandemic in March 2020 [1] , [2] , [3] . SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted through the respiratory droplets of the infected person and virus-contaminated surfaces/items [1] .…”

“…SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted through the respiratory droplets of the infected person and virus-contaminated surfaces/items [1] . The general symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, headache, fatigue, pain in muscles/joints, loss of smell/taste, diarrhea, and breathlessness [1] , [2] , [3] , [4] . Most of the COVID-19 patients (about 80%) recover without hospitalization, about 15% get serious symptoms, and about 5% require intensive care [1] , [2] .…”

“…The general symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, headache, fatigue, pain in muscles/joints, loss of smell/taste, diarrhea, and breathlessness [1] , [2] , [3] , [4] . Most of the COVID-19 patients (about 80%) recover without hospitalization, about 15% get serious symptoms, and about 5% require intensive care [1] , [2] . The death-causing complications of COVID-19 comprise respiratory failure, septic shock, thromboembolism, and multiorgan failure [1] , [2] .…”

Nanoscale Technologies in the Fight against COVID-19: From Innovative Nanomaterials to Computer-Aided Discovery of Potential Antiviral Plant-Derived Drugs

“…As reported in the previous section, there is a large amount of interest in the possible development of Zn-based drugs for therapeutic and prophylactic treatment of COVID-19 [ 215 ]. There is still not enough evidence to consider Zn administration or supplementation really promising against COVID-19 infection, especially in Zn-deficient patients [ 114 , 216 ].…”

Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, and Immunomodulatory Roles of Nonvitamin Antioxidants in Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Therapy

“… 214 Also, zinc represents an important mineral element required for the development of fungi, including pathological strains (Mucorales), causing mucormycosis. 215 − 217 …”