A recent New York Times article discussed the United States’ investment into an antiviral pill for Covid-19. The Department of Health and Human Services announced last Thursday that the government will invest $3.2 billion for the development of the drug that could save a lot of lives. Operation Warp Speed’s main focus was developing a vaccine, which ate up the majority of the budget, while treatments were placed on the backburner.
The new cash infusion will expedite clinical trials for some of the promising drug candidates, and they could be available as soon as the end of the year. The so-called Antiviral Program for Pandemics will also fund research for entirely new drugs proactively aimed at treating viruses that could cause future pandemics. Dr. Fauci, a major proponent of the program, hopes in the future anyone with Covid-19 symptoms can phone their doctor and request a prescription for the pill.
