There are many factors to consider when repurposing approved drugs for a new indication, and identification of key protein targets that are potently inhibited offers an attractive option for a new therapeutic application. The urgency of need and constraints of time, however, which come with developing effective therapeutic approaches during a pandemic crisis can make it challenging to conduct well-controlled studies with data that definitively attribute efficacy to a drug. Numerous agents, which show promise based on preclinical studies and anecdotal data, are presently under clinical investigation as single agents or in combination with other therapies. Several kinase inhibitors are under clinical investigation for COVID-19 that target key virus-associated proteins as well as proteins that play a role in development of symptoms associated with COVID-19, including pneumonia, fibrosis and inflammation. For optimal drug repurposing, the pharmacokinetics of agents need to be taken into consideration. For instance, drugs that require long-term dosing to achieve optimal drug concentrations and anti-inflammatory effects, may not easily treat the symptoms of COVID-19 due to the immediacy of treatment requirement for afflicted patients. Similarly, adverse effects associated with some kinase inhibitors also need to be considered and may present a challenge for treatment of some COVID-19 patients. However, short-term dosing may minimize these risks.