The Tripledemic: AI-Drug Discovery and the Quest for a Pan-Antiviral Drug
The "tripledemic" is a term used to describe the convergence of three different epidemics: respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), flu, and COVID-19. This convergence is putting strain on healthcare systems and hospitals are struggling to keep up with the increased demand. Current treatments are inadequate and there is a pressing need for a pan-antiviral drug that can combat all three viruses simultaneously.
Model Medicines has discoverd a drug called MDL-001 that has shown antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 and influenza in pre-clinical trials. Importantly, MDL-001 also has predicted efficacy against RSV and other RNA viruses, making it a potential pan-antiviral drug. This is critical, as the triple threat of RSV, flu, and COVID-19 is a dangerous combination that can lead to serious complications, such as pneumonia.
MDL-001 has a targeted product profile that includes being an efficacious treatment for at least RSV, SARS-CoV-2, and influenza A & B. It can be administered orally and once a day without significant drug-drug interactions, genotoxicity, or liver or kidney toxicity concerns. This makes it an ideal treatment option for the tripledemic and future pandemics.
The severity of the tripledemic cannot be understated. We need a pan-antiviral drug like MDL-001 to protect ourselves and our communities from the triple threat of RSV, flu, and COVID-19. Model Medicines is taking the next step to clinically validate MDL-001.. This is an important step towards providing a solution to the tripledemic and preparing for future pandemics. It is time for a new approach to fighting respiratory viruses and MDL-001 could be the key.
AUTHOR
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Infectious Disease Specialist
Chief, Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health
Professor of MedicineDavid "Davey" Smith, MD, is a board-certified infectious disease specialist and a translational research virologist who specializes in viral infections. He has a special interest in caring for transgender and LGBT individuals. His expertise includes treatment for patients with AIDS, hepatitis A, HIV, cytomegalovirus (CMV) or COVID-19.
As a professor, Dr. Smith trains medical students, residents and fellows at UC San Diego School of Medicine, where he is the chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health. He enjoys training the next generation of physicians and physician-scientists.
His research interests include the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and HIV infections. And he is passionate about UC San Diego's efforts to fortify testing, treatment and prevention protocols in other countries, having established labs in Mozambique and Romania.
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, Dr. Smith has been actively engaged in the international effort to find safe and effective treatments. He is the international protocol chair for the ACTIV-2 treatment study, which aims to find effective therapies for people with early COVID-19.
Dr. Smith has been published in over 250 scientific publications, including Journal of Virology, Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), The Journal of Infectious Diseases, AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, Journal of Clinical Investigation, Science and HIV Medicine journal.
As a leader in HIV/AIDS research and care, his work has contributed to the understanding of HIV transmission, superinfection and virologic compartmentalization. He also has helped characterize HIV transmission networks using molecular epidemiologic techniques.
Dr. Smith has been recognized for his academic and community involvement. In 2010, he was named HIV Researcher of the Year by the HIV Medical Association. In 2020, he was appointed the Florence Seeley Riford Chair in AIDS Research at UC San Diego. He is a member of the San Diego HIV Health Services Planning Council and also the co-director and principal investigator at the San Diego Center for AIDS Research (SD CFAR).
Dr. Smith completed a fellowship in infectious disease and his residency training in internal medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine, where he also got a Master of Advanced Studies in Clinical Research. He holds a medical degree from the East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tenn. He is board certified in internal medicine and infectious disease.
He's a fellow of the American Society of Clinical Investigation, American College of Physicians and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. He holds memberships in professional organizations, including the HIV Medical Association and Gay and Lesbian Medical Association.
In his free time, he enjoys creative writing, traveling and adventurous eating with friends and family. His poems have been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
With contribution from Model Medicines
