Generic Drug Repurposing for Public Health and National Security: COVID-19 and Beyond

The novel disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) has been a shock to both our health and wealth, with more than 276,000 dead in the U.S. and economic disruption that some have estimated as high as more than $16 trillion. These unprecedented costs imply that there are enormous social returns to therapeutic developments that would prevent or treat COVID-19 infections — or infections stemming from a potential future pandemic — effectively.