Introduction to Drug Discovery for COVID-19 and Antiviral Therapies

Understanding how therapeutic drugs are discovered and developed is critical to fighting global health crises. This written course provides a foundational look into the science of identifying and testing effective treatments for COVID-19 and other viral pathogens. By reading through these structured lessons, you will grasp the complete pipeline of antiviral drug discovery, from molecular targeting to clinical evaluation. You will develop a solid understanding of how researchers identify viral weaknesses, design chemical compounds, and utilize modern computational tools to accelerate drug development. What you will learn: Understand the fundamental biology of COVID-19 and how the virus interacts with human host cells; Identify key molecular targets, such as viral proteases and spike proteins, for drug intervention; Explore the principles of drug repurposing and high-throughput screening to find existing treatments; Learn how modern computational modeling and AI assist in designing novel antiviral compounds; Analyze the phases of clinical trials required to prove safety and efficacy for global distribution; Examine the mechanisms of vaccine development, including modern mRNA platform technologies. The course begins with essential virology and basic pharmacology definitions before guiding you through target identification, compound design, and clinical testing methodologies. You will explore real-world case studies of successful antiviral developments through clear, written explanations. Designed for beginners, science enthusiasts, and aspiring healthcare professionals, this course requires no prior background in biochemistry or pharmacology. Read along to build your foundational knowledge of modern pharmaceutical science and pandemic response.