Learning from history: do not flatten the curve of antiviral research!

Drug Discovery Today
Tesia BobrowskiAlexander Tropsha

Abstract

Here, we explore the dynamics of the response of the scientific community to several epidemics, including Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), as assessed by the numbers of clinical trials, publications, and level of research funding over time. All six prior epidemics studied [bird flu, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), swine flu, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Ebola, and Zika] were characterized by an initial spike of research response that flattened shortly thereafter. Unfortunately, no antiviral medications have been discovered to date as treatments for any of these diseases. By contrast, the HIV/AIDS pandemic has garnered consistent research investment since it began and resulted in drugs being developed within 7 years of its start date, with many more to follow. We argue that, to develop effective treatments for COVID-19 and be prepared for future epidemics, long-term, consistent investment in antiviral research is needed.

Citations

Aug 4, 2020·Pathogens and Global Health·Cláudia Gomes, Joaquim Ruiz
Aug 30, 2020·Pathogens and Disease·Vadim MakarovSergei Chepur
Dec 15, 2020·Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology·Lauren L Patton
Jul 3, 2021·Chemical Society Reviews·Eugene N MuratovAlexander Tropsha
Aug 24, 2021·Frontiers in Medicine·Alfonso J Rodriguez-MoralesMatthew H Collins
Jan 19, 2021··Sergio IlarriThierry Delot

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
pharmacotherapies
pharmacotherapy

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Google Trends
ArXiv

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