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Updated: Jan 16, 2026

Early Viral Entry Assays for the Identification and Evaluation of Antiviral Compounds
Published on: October 29, 2015
Challenges of broad-spectrum antiviral drug discovery and development for emerging pathogens
Holli-Joi Martin1, Jon-Michael Beasley1, Enes Kelestemur1
1Laboratory for Molecular Modeling, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
Abstract:
Broad-spectrum antiviral agent (BSAA) drugs are essential in the fight against viral, especially emerging, diseases. However, their development faces several challenges including insufficiently focused funding, fragmented research efforts and limited systematic data on BSAAs. In this review, we highlight these challenges, summarize accessible collections of data on antiviral compounds and viral targets, and explore possible directions toward the development of BSAAs. Whereas most existing BSAAs have been discovered serendipitously, we posit that rational, and feasible, design of direct-acting BSAAs should be focused on homologous targets found in viruses within a single viral family.
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