Pandemic Preparedness: Accelerating the Discovery of New Therapeutics

The COVID-19 pandemic showed how poorly prepared we were to deal with a newly emerging respiratory virus. Antiviral drugs with the appropriate spectrum of activity can protect against a new pandemic threat until a vaccine can be developed and deployed. Drugs should be suitable for post-exposure prophylaxis or treatment of mild disease, possess oral activity with a good safety profile, have low cost of goods, and be easy to deliver and suitable for combination. The global research community must act collectively to generate a toolkit of antiviral agents covering a number of viral families. Scientists from many sectors â€" industry, academia, non-profits â€" will be involved, working in a multidisciplinary effort. This presentation provides a perspective on pandemic preparedness, the approaches that are being taken to tackle this problem, and the need to ensure equitable access to any drugs that are developed.