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Pills To Minimize COVID-19 After Infection Could Be Available By End Of The Year

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The United States is devoting more than $3 billion to advance development of antiviral pills for COVID-19 and other dangerous viruses that could turn into pandemics.

The pills would be used to minimize symptoms after infection. They are in development and could begin arriving by year's end, pending the completion of clinical trials.

Related: Will There Be An Oral COVID Vaccine? Dr. Mallika Marshall Answers Your Questions

Top U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci announced the plan Thursday at a White House briefing.

Fauci says the new program would invest in "accelerating things that are already in progress" for COVID-19 but also would work to innovate new therapies for other dangerous viruses.

(© Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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