Antiviral Drug Supply for COVID-19

The Antivirals Taskforce leads on identifying and deploying innovative COVID-19 antivirals to stop the infection spreading, speed up recovery time and reduce the likelihood of hospitalisation following infection. The Taskforce is seeking to build a diverse portfolio of antiviral candidates for future deployment in the UK healthcare system. The purpose of this Prior Information Notice is to assess and understand the COVID-19 antivirals market by gathering information through market engagement and to gain a more detailed understanding of the market. The Taskforce is seeking to gather information in respect of antivirals that can be deployed in a home or community setting, with the primary mechanism of action targeting the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Antiviral suppliers must provide evidence of their compound’s pharmacological properties and mechanism of action. Compounds should be either self-administered, or through a single dose administration by a healthcare professional. The compound should also be given in either post-exposure prophylaxis or very early post infection (targeting acute virus not immune response). The market engagement will take the form of two webinars held on Tuesday 23rd November 2021 and Tuesday 1st December 2021. These webinars will take interested suppliers through the requirement outlined in this Prior Information Notice and will provide an opportunity for suppliers to ask questions. Both webinars will cover the same content. To sign up to join either webinar please visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/prior-information-notice-antiviral-drug-supply-for-covid-19-webinar-tickets-210977488347We are inviting suppliers to register their interest in the PIN by downloading a questionnaire via the Atamis platform, and sending a completed version to ATF-PIN@dhsc.gov.uk by 13:00 on 22nd December 2021. Responses to this questionnaire will be kept in confidence and will inform the Taskforce’s market research. Suppliers are not required to fill out a questionnaire before attending the webinars above.Informational Roundtables - We are also looking to host informational roundtables with smaller groups of industry experts as part of our objective to gain more insight into the market. Any suppliers interested in taking part in a roundtable are invited to get in touch by 13:00 Friday, 3rd December 2021 via ATF-PIN@dhsc.gov.uk Suppliers are not required to fill out a questionnaire before attending a roundtable.One-to-One Meetings - We are also looking to offer one-to-one meetings with suppliers based on their responses to the questionnaire, should suppliers wish to discuss commercially sensitive information. If you would be interested in a one-to-one session, please download and complete the questionnaire by 13:00 on 3rd December 2021 and send to ATF-PIN@dhsc.gov.uk. We will get in touch directly with suppliers that complete the questionnaire by this date to offer one-to-one meetings. Please note if there is very high demand for one-to-one sessions and we are unable to accommodate all requests, we may be required to choose not to offer one-to-one meetings at all.Any information shared in the webinars, roundtables and one-to-one sessions, except where commercially sensitive for suppliers, will be shared with all suppliers via the Atamis platform after the market engagement period associated with this PIN closes on Wednesday 22nd December 2021. Additional information: If suppliers would be interested in a one-to-one meeting, they should complete the questionnaire by 13:00 GMT on Friday 3rd December 2021 and submit to ATF-PIN@dhsc.gov.uk