<p>The administration of US President Joe Biden announced plans on Thursday to spend $3.2 billion to accelerate the development and discovery of antiviral treatments against Covid-19 and future threats.</p>.<p>The plan is called the Antiviral Program for Pandemics and its funding comes from the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion package passed by Congress in March.</p>.<p>"Antivirals are an important complement to existing vaccines, especially for individuals with certain conditions that might put them at a greater risk, for those whom vaccines may not be as protective," Anthony Fauci, the president's chief medical advisor on the pandemic, told reporters.</p>.<p>Antiviral medication can also act as an important line of defence against emerging variants of concern that evade the protective action of current generation vaccines, he added.</p>.<p>The plan will help accelerate clinical testing for oral antiviral pills currently under various stages of development, such as Merck's molnupiravir as well as efforts by Pfizer and Atea-Roche.</p>.<p>The plan is for these to be taken very early after an infection is confirmed, in order to stop the disease from progressing to the severe stage -- mimicking what Tamiflu does for influenza.</p>.<p>The other pillar of the program is seeding the discovery of new antivirals -- not just against this coronavirus and its wider family, but other families of viruses that are believed to have pandemic potential.<br /><br /></p>
<p>The administration of US President Joe Biden announced plans on Thursday to spend $3.2 billion to accelerate the development and discovery of antiviral treatments against Covid-19 and future threats.</p>.<p>The plan is called the Antiviral Program for Pandemics and its funding comes from the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion package passed by Congress in March.</p>.<p>"Antivirals are an important complement to existing vaccines, especially for individuals with certain conditions that might put them at a greater risk, for those whom vaccines may not be as protective," Anthony Fauci, the president's chief medical advisor on the pandemic, told reporters.</p>.<p>Antiviral medication can also act as an important line of defence against emerging variants of concern that evade the protective action of current generation vaccines, he added.</p>.<p>The plan will help accelerate clinical testing for oral antiviral pills currently under various stages of development, such as Merck's molnupiravir as well as efforts by Pfizer and Atea-Roche.</p>.<p>The plan is for these to be taken very early after an infection is confirmed, in order to stop the disease from progressing to the severe stage -- mimicking what Tamiflu does for influenza.</p>.<p>The other pillar of the program is seeding the discovery of new antivirals -- not just against this coronavirus and its wider family, but other families of viruses that are believed to have pandemic potential.<br /><br /></p>