Covid-19 vaccine at least 18 months away but other drugs hold promise

Already 41 companies and institutes are researching ways to produce a vaccine for Covid-19, while the potential of 23 anti-inflammatory drugs and six anti-viral treatments are also being investigated.

A vaccine for Covid-19 could take anywhere from 18 months to a number of years to develop and a global effort will be needed to deliver a universally available, low cost, treatment in the developed and developing world.

That was the consensus among leading Irish and international scientists and experts speaking at a video conference hosted by Access to Medicines Ireland.