Canadian Manufacturing

Fauci announces that the US will spend $3.2B for antiviral COVID-19 pills

by Associated Press   

Manufacturing Regulation Research & Development Infrastructure Public Sector COVID-19 drug manufacturing Economy Government healthcare In Focus Manufacturing medical Pharmaceutical Manufacturing pharmaceuticals


The pills for COVID-19, which would be used to minimize symptoms after infection, are in development and could begin arriving by year's end.

The United States is devoting $3.2 billion to advance the development of antiviral pills for COVID-19 and other dangerous viruses that could turn into pandemics.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, announced the investment during a White House briefing as part of a new “antiviral program for pandemics” to develop drugs to address symptoms caused by potentially dangerous viruses like the coronavirus.

The pills for COVID-19, which would be used to minimize symptoms after infection, are in development and could begin arriving by year’s end, pending the completion of clinical trials. The funding will speed those clinical trials and provide additional support private sector research, development and manufacturing.

Fauci said the new program would invest in “accelerating things that are already in progress” for COVID-19, but also work to innovate new therapies for other viruses.

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“There are few treatments that exist for many of the viruses that have pandemic potential,” said Fauci.

But he added, “vaccines clearly remain the centerpiece of our arsenal.”

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