Vaccine progress is fantastic. But therapeutics can help Covid patients now | Jayanth Vatson and Sabiha Hussain

Vaccine development has gotten the lion's share of funding - leaving important therapeutic trials ignored and underfunded

In the midst of a Covid-19 pandemic that has already taken the lives of more than 283,000 Americans, talks of a Covid-19 vaccine dominate the pandemic news cycle. Particularly with new announcements of multiple vaccine candidates with promising clinical trial success, there is a growing sense of hope. But as we face rising case counts and a likely second wave, it is important to remember that there are therapeutic drugs which - unlike the vaccines - can help Covid patients now.

The current vaccine-centric mindset is not without its benefits. The rush to expedite a Covid-19 vaccine has brought about unprecedented support from public and private industries alike. The federal government has pledged billions of dollars in pharmaceutical development aid along with provisional holds on current regulatory measures to fast-track prospective vaccines. Private and publicly-owned entities have come together in a massive demonstration of the scientific process to quickly evaluate multiple vaccine candidates.