Forbes: Biden Administration Plans $3.2 Billion Investment In Antiviral Pills To Combat COVID-19

According to the U.S. Department of Health, the Biden Administration is set to invest upwards of $3 billion to expedite the discovery, development, and manufacturing of antiviral medicine to treat not only COVID-19 but also a range of viruses. Even though the coronavirus case counts and death rates have been steadily decreasing, it is still paramount to identify effective and sustainable COVID-19 treatment options to reduce the risk of hospitalization or death for those infected with the virus. The administration has committed itself to purchase 1.7 million doses of monupiravir, a COVID-19 antiviral treatment of great potential. The drug was developed by Merch and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and is currently prioritized for rigorous testing and clinical trials for COVID-19 outpatients and inpatients. Today, approximately 44% of the U.S. population has been fully vaccinated with around a million doses being administered daily. While the remarkable and rapid development of vaccines has undoubtedly altered the course of the pandemic for the better, it is crucial to leverage these same strengths to construct a platform that will better prepare us for potential future viral pathogens. Read the full article here