Recent Advances in Antiviral Drug Discovery

The early development of antiviral drugs is emerging very strongly due to rapid viral emergence and limited therapeutic choices. This review summarizes recent progress in antiviral therapies, including new antiviral targets to optimize drug therapy, new compounds, and new drug delivery systems. Viral enzymes, entry and fusion proteins, host-virus interactions are discussed in terms of their potential as targets for drug discovery campaigns. We further explore new antiviral candidates, including small molecule and biologics such as monoclonal antibodies and RNA-based therapies, as well as natural products with anti-influenza activity. Plenty of attention is also paid to repurposing existing drugs (for example, cancer therapies or HIV protease inhibitors) for new viral infections—a promising route for fast-tracking development of treatments. Innovations in drug delivery systems, such as nanoparticles, liposomes, viral vectors, and topical formulations, hold the potential to improve the efficiency and accessibility of antiviral therapies. Finally, the review discusses the persistent problems of antiviral resistance and toxicity and the critical need for accessible antiviral therapies as new pandemics, like COVID-19, emerge. The paper discusses the future of antiviral drug discovery, emphasizing a focus on broad-spectrum antiviral drugs and the need for global collaboration and innovative technology to address viral threats.