The Biden administration said Thursday it would invest $3.2 billion to speed the development of antiviral pills that could treat COVID-19 and other viruses, a major step that could save many lives in future pandemics.

The Department of Health and Human Services said the plan, dubbed the Antiviral Program for Pandemics, would accelerate and expand support for clinical trials and aid further development of as-yet undiscovered drugs. The agency expressed hope it could have an oral antiviral treatment for COVID-19 authorized by the Food and Drug Administration within a year.

source: huffpost.com