Led by Jano Costard at SPRIND, advised by Christopher Avery (HKS)

Developing an advanced portfolio of viral therapeutics is a key pandemic preparedness measure to reduce the severity and mortality of a future pandemic. However, commercial markets do not adequately value the social benefit of an antiviral being “broad-spectrum” such that it could be deployed rapidly in response to a future novel pathogen. Pull mechanisms would be able to specify a target product profile that prioritizes drug attributes that have a high public health value such as broad-spectrum efficacy and the ability to reduce transmission. Having these antivirals ready for use against a novel pathogen with little to no modification would allow for faster deployment during a future pandemic, saving lives and reducing economic losses.

Read the policy memo and watch the pitch