Oral drug combo to block many coronaviruses
Development of an Oral Pan-Coronavirus Drug Cocktail
They're developing an oral combination pill that aims to stop a range of coronaviruses and help people at risk of COVID-19 and future outbreaks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11111289 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will test combinations of antiviral drugs that work together to block how coronaviruses infect cells and replicate. They'll use mathematical models to pick the most promising drug pairs and dosing plans for people. Top combinations will be tested in rodent infection models to check safety, tissue levels, and how well they stop disease. The team will also create harmonized clinical trial plans so human studies can start quickly if the lab results look good.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future trials would include people at increased risk of coronavirus infection or severe COVID-19—for example older adults, people with weakened immune systems, or frontline workers—especially those with early or recent exposure.
Not a fit: People with infections not caused by coronaviruses, those already critically ill in the hospital, or anyone allergic to the drugs in the combination may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could produce an easy-to-take oral therapy that prevents or treats infections from current and future coronaviruses, reducing severe illness and hospital stays.
How similar studies have performed: Combination antivirals have been very successful for other viruses like HIV and hepatitis C, and some single-agent COVID antivirals exist, but a broadly effective oral pan-coronavirus drug cocktail is largely new and unproven.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Polyak, Stephen J. — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Polyak, Stephen J.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.