1  Metformin: Historical re-purposing and pleiotropy
It is a lesser-known fact that metformin was originally introduced as an anti-influenza drug and that glucose-lowering was only one of its side effects [1]. The many pleiotropic effects of metformin and its widespread utility in medicine today have led scientists to call it the aspirin of the 21st century [2].
In the current scenario, when there is no specific agent against COVID-19, and when re-purposing of drugs is the primary weapon, we suggest that metformin be used as one of the drugs to combat the virus.