The Development and Application of Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Drugs
A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Medicinal Chemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 April 2026 | Viewed by 934
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The rise of emerging and re-emerging viruses underscores the urgent need for antivirals that can address multiple pathogens. With over 200 viruses causing human disease but approved treatments for only a few, broad-spectrum antivirals (BSAs) offer a promising solution. By targeting conserved viral components or essential host factors, BSAs can work across different virus families and support rapid pandemic responses.
Advances in both direct-acting and host-targeted BSAs are encouraging, yet challenges such as resistance, toxicity, and unvalidated mechanisms remain. Continued efforts are needed to optimize targets, efficacy, and safety.
This Special Issue of Pharmaceuticals welcomes original research and reviews on BSAs active against viruses from at least two different species. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Development and optimization of broad-spectrum antivirals;
- Mechanistic studies and target identification for broad-spectrum antivirals;
- Preclinical and clinical evaluations of broad-spectrum antiviral agents;
- Strategies to overcome antiviral resistance and enhance therapeutic efficacy.
Such research will contribute our ability to develop effective, broad-spectrum antiviral strategies and improve global preparedness for future viral threats.
Dr. Chieh-Wen Lo
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- broad-spectrum antiviral
- direct-acting antiviral
- host-targeted antiviral
- emerging viruses
- pandemic preparedness
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