Amantadin has potential for the treatment of COVID-19 because it targets known and novel ion channels encoded by SARS-CoV-2

Abstract The dire need for therapies against SARS-CoV-2 infections is obvious and inspires strategies of repurposing drugs approved for other indications. Current examples are remdesivir (originally developed for ebola treatment) and steroids (anti-inflammatory treatment). Here we propose to use amantadine (an anti-influenza A drug) as a novel, cheap, readily available and effective way to treat COVID-19 because of its ability to inhibit known (Protein E) and novel (Orf10) ion channels identified in the virus genome.