The SARS-CoV-2 virus took the world by surprise, but by one measure it immediately came on schedule. The first SARS virus was discovered in 2003; the related MERS virus hit in 2012. Today we have COVID-19. In other words, novel coronaviruses like once in decades to make successful leaps to people – and there is no reason to think that they will stop after this end.
Unfortunately for us, there has been so much cumulative progress when it comes to developing antivirals to fight coronaviruses. As closely related as the SARS, MERS, and COVID-19 viruses, they are distinctive enough that researchers have not discovered a cure for coronavirus. And unfortunately, the SARS and MERS epidemics simply may not have been catastrophic to motivate funders, governments, and drug companies to develop proactive antivirals for the next event.
“A non-virologist, if you remind them, will remember that it happened,” says virologist Nat Moorman about the SARS and MERS outbreaks. ‘But the answer you typically hear is‘ yes, but that was not really that big of a deal ’, not realizing how close we really were to the fact that it was the size of a deal. And so, you know, the interest of the public, and at some level the interest of financiers, disappears with time. ”
Moorman and his colleagues at UNC-Chapel Hill aim to keep interest in antivirals high, no matter what course this pandemic eventually takes. They tackle a research line that could lead to many “broader spectrum” antivirals: drugs that are effective against this coronavirus, but also the following that appear – and, perhaps, any virus. The edge talked to Moorman about her angle of antiviral attack, check out the video above to learn more.
