The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will produce a rapid expert consultation on current therapeutic options for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (HPAI) (H5N1) in humans. This consultation will assess the state of available therapeutics and discuss how these therapeutics can be most effectively utilized in the event of sustained human-to-human H5N1 transmission or a potential influenza pandemic. The consultation will address urgent and strategic questions, including:
• Which therapeutics are currently available to treat pandemic influenza and HPAI in patients, and how effective are they across various contexts?
• Which therapeutics are currently in development or could be explored to treat pandemic influenza and HPAI in patients?
• What information needs to be collected (i.e., clinical trials or research) for the effective use of therapeutics for pandemic flu and HPAI?
• What information do we need to determine which populations should use these therapeutics for pandemic flu and HPAI?
• What considerations are necessary to develop and ensure promising therapeutics for pandemic flu and HPAI meet regulatory standards expeditiously?
• Which allocation strategies could be used to address supplies of therapeutics, given the needs of hospitalized vs non-hospitalized patients, for pandemic flu and HPAI?
This effort will build upon prior National Academies work including the 2024 workshop on Potential Research Priorities to Inform Readiness and Response to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1), and will be informed by expert input, published relevant literature, and lessons learned in the ongoing state and local response to H5N1. This rapid expert consultation is intended to inform immediate decision-making and coordination but will not include formal findings, conclusions, recommendations, or policy advice.