Leopoldina: Expand research into anti-virus drugs

So far, only one drug against corona has been approved in the EU.

There are already positive study results for others.

Experts are pushing for research to be stepped up.

Halle - The National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina sees an urgent need for action in view of the corona pandemic to intensify research into drugs against viruses.

"The few existing drugs against Sars-CoV-2 are not enough," explained the virologist Helga Rübsamen-Schaeff, a member of the Leopoldina.

It is important to have highly effective active ingredients that can be used as early as possible after an infection to stop the virus from multiplying and the pathogen from passing on.

With a view to future pandemics, broadly effective drugs that work against different types of a virus family should be developed, writes the Leopoldina.

The drugs should be easy to administer, effective and comparatively inexpensive.

Remdesivir is the only antiviral corona drug approved in the EU to date.

Recently, however, several companies reported positive study results, including Pfizer with its corona pill Paxlovid and Regeneron with an antibody cocktail.

The UK Medicines Agency (MHRA) recently approved the Lagevrio tablet (also known as molnupiravir).

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“The development of active substances must not only begin when a new pandemic virus has emerged.

It should be pushed ahead vigorously in advance, ”said Leopoldina member Ralf Bartenschlager.

Active ingredients against the virus are also required globally, adds the Leopoldina.

Easily available drugs for swallowing or inhalation are particularly important in regions of the world where the population does not have sufficient access to vaccines and medical infrastructure.

dpa