Rationale of using the dual chemokine receptor CCR2/CCR5 inhibitor cenicriviroc for the treatment of COVID-19

This article reviews the literature examining the inflammatory pathways resulting in pulmonary and cardiovascular adverse events associated with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and their role in the disease process; it also reviews the mechanism of action and safety profile of cenicriviroc (CVC), a C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) and C-C chemokine receptor type 2 (CCR2) antagonist, previously studied in advanced clinical trials for treatment of HIV or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), as a possible treatment option to prevent severe respiratory and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with COVID-19.