
Policy Brief
Preparing for the Authorization of COVID-19 Antivirals
Amidst regional Delta surges and the emergence of the Omicron variant, FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization of oral antiviral drugs may offer both near-term relief and an improved path forward for managing the pandemic. To assist policymakers and health system stakeholders in planning ahead of regulatory authorization, this issue brief explores key issues and considerations that decision makers will face in effectively and equitably deploying antiviral therapies, including identifying appropriate patient populations, implementing rapid “test-to-treat” strategies that maximize effectiveness, safeguarding equitable allocation to individuals and communities most at-risk of hospitalization and death, and initiating public outreach.
Duke-Margolis Authors

Brian Canter, PhD
Policy Research Associate

Matt D'Ambrosio
Policy Analyst

Mark McClellan, MD, PhD
Director of the Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy
Robert J. Margolis, MD, Professor of Business, Medicine and Policy
Margolis Executive Core Faculty