A Tale of Two Protease Inhibitors... Protease inhibitors bind to a viral enzyme (called a protease), preventing the virus from replicating in the cell. Protease inhibitors have been effective at treating other viral pathogens such as HIV and hepatitis C virus, both alone and in combination with other antivirals. Currently marketed therapeutics that target viral proteases are not generally associated with toxicity and as such, this class of molecules may potentially provide well-tolerated treatments against COVID-19. https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-initiates-phase-1-study-novel-oral-antiviral Our government to spend billions on it up front, $300-$500 per course.. Pfizer, US in talks for 'multibillion-dollar' supply deal for COVID-19 pill: WaPo https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/breaking-pfizer-line-for-5b-covid-pill-deal-report?oly_enc_id=8453B4904223J5S [Yt]ufy2AweXRkc[/Yt]