The nationwide uptake of vaccines against the Coronavirus, though not happening at an ideal pace, is a positive development. Meanwhile, as the duration of protection given by the currently available vaccines is not established, and in view of variants in the virus reported in various countries, efforts to develop new vaccines are in full swing.

   However, vaccines are meant to prevent infection and we need drugs to cure, should infection occur. It is therefore appropriate to make efforts aimed at producing antiviral drugs.

  In the field of drug design against COVID-19, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a key player. Two AI programmes have made remarkable progress. One has digitally screened 14 billion compounds in a matter of hours and found a few hits. The other programme would help chemists to synthesise the drugs selected.

Antiviral molecules

  Worldwide some 240 antiviral molecules are reported....