Broad-spectrum anti-viral therapeutics: a key tool for pandemic preparedness and response

On 22 and 23 November, the Directorate-General for Research and Development (RTD) and the Health Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) organised a multidisciplinary workshop on the development and availability of broad-spectrum antivirals for better pandemic preparedness. 

Large investments have been made to create a strong European Health Union for improved EU health security and to reinforce the global health emergency response architecture. A key element of this architecture is the development and the repurposing of, and access to, effective and safe medical counter-measures such as antivirals. In particular, under the latest EU framework programmes to support research and innovation, significant investments have been made in the field of antiviral drug development. The COVID-19 pandemic brought renewed attention to the importance of a diverse toolbox that takes into account the uncertainty inherent to pandemic preparedness. 

The workshop provided an overview of research and innovation efforts on broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutics, as well as the development and production landscape, and will discussed strategic future steps in order to include broad-spectrum antivirals in the pandemic preparedness toolbox

Workshop report and materials

• Final workshop report 
• Workshop agenda
• Workshop scoping paper
• Short biographies of moderators, speakers and panelists

Introduction

• Welcome speech
  Wolfgang Philipp
  European Commission - Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA)
• Welcome
  Eric Snijder
  Leiden University Medical Centre

Keynote 

• Keynote speech
  Peter Piot
  Special Advisor to the President of the European Commission

Presentations

Broad-spectrum antivirals in pandemic preparedness and response

• Broad-spectrum antivirals in pandemic preparedness and response
  Nahoko Shindo
  World Health Organization
• Policy implications of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  Ágnes Molnár
  European Commission - Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA)
• Cracking the Code: Advanced development and licensure of the elusive broad- spectrum antiviral drug
  Robert Johnson
  Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA - USA)

Pre-clinical research of broad-spectrum antivirals

• Towards broad(er)-spectrum antiviral agents
  Johan Neyts
  Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven (Belgium)
• The Antiviral Drug Discovery (AViDD) Centers for Pathogens of Pandemic Concern, multi-disciplinary research for anti-viral development
  Cristina Cassetti
  DMID/NIAID/NIH
• Bolstering local innovative drug discovery capabilities for pandemic preparedness: The Holistic Drug Discovery and Development (H3D) Centre in South Africa
  Kelly Chibale
  H3D
• Stimulating innovation for pandemic preparedness: the Blue Knight initiative
  Ruxandra Draghia
  Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson

Clinical research environment

• Clinical and research experience from the European clinical trials in emergencies
  Marius Trøseid
  Oslo University Hospital
• Fast clinical assessment of antivirals in a crisis response: The AGILE clinical trial platform
  Saye Khoo
  University of Liverpool
• Clinical research for COVID-19 antivirals: Experience from South Africa
  Charles Wiysonge
  South African Medical Research Council
• Regulatory consideration for clinical development of broad-spectrum antiviral agents
  Marco Cavaleri
  European Medicines Agency

Availability and access

• Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 virus characterisation in the EU/EEA
  Eeva Broberg
  European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
• Prioritisation of threats and medical countermeasures
  Agnes Molnar
  European Commission - Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA)
• Manufacturing capacities for pandemic preparedness
  Isabel Holmquist
  European Commission - Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA)
• Ensuring the last mile: From production to patients
  Catherine Decouttere
  KU Leuven (Belgium)

Global context

• The Pandemic Antiviral Discovery (PAD) initiative
  Robert Jordan
  Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Trial implementation in low and middle income contexts
  Fadima Cheick Haidara
  Centre pour le Développement des Vaccins du Mali (CVD-Mali)
• One Health perspective
  Marisa Peyre
  PREZODE
• Broad-spectrum antivirals in pandemic preparedness: the economics of a rapid emergency response
  Rachel Glennerster
  University of Chicago (USA)
• Research funding coordination for pandemic preparedness and response
  Charu Kaushic
  GloPID-R