Outcomes from Antiviral Drug Discovery (AViDD) Centers for Pathogens of Pandemic Concern

Full SLAS Special Issue Available Now

Under the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ Antiviral Drug Discovery (AViDD) program, numerous centers and laboratories are working diligently on initiatives to prepare for the next viral pandemic and fight endemic viral diseases. These initiatives cover a wide range, from early drug discovery using various approaches to the transition from hits to leads for small molecules and biologics, which are essential for future success against pathogenic viruses. 

Midwest AViDD collaborators, Dr. Timothy Spicer and Dr. Louis Scampavia from The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute, were asked to lead the editorial coverage of a special issue of SLAS Discovery that highlights the progress and breakthroughs in antiviral drug development. 

The full issue can now be downloaded here.

The papers in this issue include: 

1.  SLAS special issue editorial 2025: Outcomes from antiviral drug discovery for pathogens of pandemic concern
2. Rapid luminescence-based screening method for SARS- CoV-2 inhibitors discovery
3. Rapid-response RNA-fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay platform for coronavirus antiviral high-throughput screening
4. High throughput screening for SARS-CoV-2 helicase inhibitors
5. SARS-CoV-2 M^pro inhibitor identification using a cellular gain-of-signal assay for high-throughput screening
6. Simultaneous screening for selective SARS-CoV-2, Lassa, and Machupo virus entry inhibitors
7. From labs to legislation: The interplay between academic research and political realities
8. A high-throughput cell-based screening method for Zika virus protease inhibitor discovery
9. A high-throughput response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic
10. Activity and inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron nsp13 R392C variant using RNA duplex unwinding assays