COVID-19 therapeutics: Challenges and directions for the future.

2022-04-12

Robinson, Philip C

Liew, David F L

Tanner, Helen L

Grainger, John R

Dwek, Raymond A

Reisler, Ronald B

Steinman, Lawrence

Feldmann, Marc

Ho, Ling-Pei

Hussell, Tracy

Moss, Paul

Richards, Duncan

Zitzmann, Nicole

epidemiology

immunology

virology

Journal Article

0000-0002-3156-3418

0000-0001-8451-8883

0000-0002-4052-5923

0000-0001-9989-2245

0000-0002-8353-1717

0000-0002-2437-2250

0000-0003-0800-7840

0000-0001-8319-301X

0000-0002-6895-1967

0000-0003-1969-4949

10.1073/pnas.2119893119

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 triggering the COVID-19 pandemic ranks as arguably the greatest medical emergency of the last century. COVID-19 has highlighted health disparities both within and between countries and will leave a lasting impact on global society. Nonetheless, substantial investment in life sciences over recent decades has facilitated a rapid scientific response with innovations in viral characterization, testing, and sequencing. Perhaps most remarkably, this permitted the development of highly effective vaccines, which are being distributed globally at unprecedented speed. In contrast, drug treatments for the established disease have delivered limited benefits so far. Innovative and rapid approaches in the design and execution of large-scale clinical trials and repurposing of existing drugs have saved many lives; however, many more remain at risk. In this review we describe challenges and unmet needs, discuss existing therapeutics, and address future opportunities. Consideration is given to factors that have hindered drug development in order to support planning for the next pandemic challenge and to allow rapid and cost-effective development of new therapeutics with equitable delivery.

link

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2022; 119(15): e2119893119

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America