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When DARPA launched its Pandemic Preparedness Platform (P3) program two years ago, the pandemic was theoretical. It seemed like a prudent idea to develop a quick response to emerging infectious diseases. Researchers working under the program sought ways to confer instant (but short-term) protection from a dangerous virus or bacteria. Today, as the novel coronavirus causes a skyrocketing number of COVID-19 cases around the world, the researchers are racing to apply their experimental techniques to a true pandemic playing out in real time. “Right now, they have one shot on goal,†says DARPA program manager Amy Jenkins. “We’re really hoping it works.â€The P3 program’s plan was to start with a new pathogen and to “develop technology to deliver medical countermeasures in under 60 days—which was crazy, unheard of,†says Jenkins. The teams have proven they can meet this ambitious timeline in previous trials using the influenza and Zika viruses. Now they’re being asked to pull off the same feat with the new coronavirus, which more formally goes by the name SARS-CoV-2 and causes the illness known as COVID-19.
(Bloomberg) -- Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly & Co. has entered an agreement to develop an experimental therapy for the new coronavirus with with closely held biotechnology company AbCellera Biologics Inc.The Vancouver based biotechnology firm is already working on discovering antibodies that could potentially be deployed to stop transmission of the virus and prevent the lung illness known as Covid-19....A roundtable of pharmaceutical executives told U.S. President Donald Trump this month that antiviral medications could be available for patients in a matter of months. Vaccines, which would prevent healthy people from contracting the disease, are further from reaching doctors’ offices and pharmacy shelves. Gilead Sciences Inc. and AbbVie Inc. have emerged as front-runners for potential treatments for the disease, while Sanofi, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna Inc. are developing vaccines. No executives from Lilly attended the White House meeting.Lilly’s success in fighting the novel coronavirus will be dependent on AbCellera, which has developed propriety technology that quickly screens for potent antibodies and validates potential candidates on tight timelines. The discovery company touts its ability to “fast-track†drug programs for its many partners, which have included major pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer Inc., Merck & Co. and Sanofi.AbCellera is no stranger to pandemic response. In 2018, the company was awarded a contract from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or Darpa, for as much as $30 million in funding to create an end-to-end platform for rapid pandemic response. ...
Eli Lilly Joins Race to Develop Coronavirus Treatment3/13/2020Looks like this DARPA program may be about to bear fruit!
I hope our government shows some restraint in not hindering approval of these vaccines. Vaccine in months? Given to the elderly and pre-existing population? We could get this f'n COVID-19 story off the front page by World Series time.
For good and for ill, the FDA's approval process is haunted by the Thalidomide and DES disasters.
DARPA is Top Secret, so while the President talked about speeding up bureaucratic hurdles for the private sector, he didn't mention highly classified military subjects.If he did, we'd be back in the TDS Spam mode on whatever he said publicly.
