Antiviral drug discovery: preparing for the next pandemic

Clinically approved antiviral drugs are currently available for only 10 of the more than 220 viruses known to infect humans. The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak has exposed the critical need for compounds that can be rapidly mobilised for the treatment of re-emerging or emerging viral diseases, while vaccine development is underway. We review the current status of antiviral therapies focusing on RNA viruses, highlighting strategies for antiviral drug discovery and discuss the challenges, solutions and options to accelerate drug discovery efforts.

Automated summary

Currently, only 10 out of over 220 known human-infecting viruses have clinically approved antiviral drugs. The COVID-19 outbreak highlights the critical need for compounds that can be quickly deployed for treating re-emerging or emerging viral diseases, while vaccines are being developed. Progress has been made in antiviral drug discovery for RNA viruses, but challenges remain in accelerating drug discovery efforts.