Dapsone for treating COVID-19

Dapsone is currently in clinical development for the treatment of COVID-19. COVID-19 is an infectious respiratory disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2. The main symptoms of COVID-19 infection are fever, a new continuous cough, and loss of taste or smell. In some patients, COVID-19 may result in severe complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, blood clotting, acute heart or kidney injury, and sepsis. Hospitalisation and death rates amongst COVID-19 patients remains high. There is a need to develop additional treatments to improve prognosis and reduce the burden on healthcare services.