Recent Advances in Influenza, HIV and SARS-CoV-2 Infection Prevention and Drug Treatment-The Need for Precision Medicine

Viruses, and in particular, RNA viruses, dominate the WHO's current list of ten global health threats. Of these, we review the widespread and most common HIV, influenza virus, and SARS-CoV-2 infections, as well as their possible prevention by vaccination and treatments by pharmacotherapeutic approaches. Beyond the vaccination, we discuss the virus-targeting and host-targeting drugs approved in the last five years, in the case of SARS-CoV-2 in the last one year, as well as new drug candidates and lead molecules that have been published in the same periods. We share our views on vaccination and pharmacotherapy, their mutually reinforcing strategic significance in combating pandemics, and the pros and cons of host and virus-targeted drug therapy. The COVID-19 pandemic has provided evidence of our limited armamentarium to fight emerging viral diseases. Novel broad-spectrum vaccines as well as drugs that could even be applied as prophylactic treatments or in early phases of the viremia, possibly through oral administration, are needed in all three areas. To meet these needs, the use of multi-data-based precision medicine in the practice and innovation of vaccination and drug therapy is inevitable.

Automated summary

This passage discusses the threat of viruses, particularly RNA viruses, to global health. It focuses on the widespread HIV, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2 infections, as well as the role of vaccination and pharmacotherapy in their prevention and treatment. The passage also reviews approved virus and host-targeting drugs, as well as new drug candidates and lead molecules. The importance of vaccination and drug therapy, their strategic significance in combating pandemics, and the pros and cons of host and virus-targeted drug therapy are discussed. The passage emphasizes the need for novel broad-spectrum vaccines and oral drugs to combat emerging viral diseases and highlights the inevitability of using multi-data-based precision medicine in vaccination and drug therapy practices.