About ICAV
The International Consortium on Anti-Virals (ICAV)/ Consortium International sur les Thérapies Antivirales (CITAV): is a Canadian ‘Not-For-profit’ drug development company founded in 2004 to discover and develop novel anti-viral therapies for neglected and emerging diseases, and to ensure their global accessibility to all those in need.
ICAV recognizes the need for the international community to establish a capability to detect, contain and treat diseases and pandemics promptly in both the developed and developing worlds. ICAV supports the development of therapies for such viruses as Influenza, Dengue, HIV, Hepatitis, Lassa, Yellow Fever, Chikungunya, Ebola and Marburg, and other infectious viral diseases.
The ICAV-participant group of scientists, public health professionals and physicians is from 42 different countries on 5 continents. As a result of the regular international conferences, ICAV/CITAV has built a robust network of dedicated individuals. The cumulative number of attendees at the 12 international conferences that ICAV/CITAV convened between 2004 and 2014 is over 300. Many participants attended several conferences, and a few attended them all.
Pre-existing networks can respond in real time and time is of the essence in pandemic responses. This has proven invaluable in mounting rapid responses to infectious disease outbreaks whether it was the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, the 2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak, the recent Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the current COVID-19 pandemic of 2019/2020.
Vision
To empower countries in every continent to become self-sufficient in supplying affordable anti-viral drugs to their people.
Mission
Through the international collaboration of scientists, governments and industry, ICAV accelerates the discovery and development of novel anti-viral therapies. ICAV’s mandate is to ensure the delivery of these therapies to those most in need.
Why ICAV is Needed
- Millions of people die from viral diseases every year. Most of those affected cannot afford therapies.
- The global community is unequipped to deal with the next pandemic.
- Pharmaceutical companies have failed to fill the anti-viral gap.
- ICAV is accelerating the development of novel, effective and accessible anti-viral therapies.
- ICAV will ensure that its therapies are available at cost or for free in lower- and middle-income countries.
- ICAV is developing therapies that will provide the first line of defence in the next pandemic situation.
