Developing Potent Antivirals Targeting COVID-19 'Direction of the Future,' Fauci Says

Leading U.S. infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci said at a White House briefing yesterday that the United States must adopt a strategy for developing antivirals against COVID-19 similar to the "highly successful drug development program for HIV as well as Hepatitis C," reports Fox News . He explained that work must focus on identifying vulnerable targets within the SARS-CoV-2 replication cycle. "This is going to be the direction of the future," Fauci added, noting that the Food and Drug Administration has published updated guidance for medical product developers, including those making vaccines, therapeutics, and tests to address virus variants. He commented that although several therapies have received emergency use authorization, more must be done, especially to address advanced disease. Currently sanctioned therapeutics usually rely on early intervention to see best results. With nearly 500,000 Americans lost to COVID, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky said this death toll offsets the progress made in reducing rates of new cases and hospitalizations.