The U.S. FDA has granted several emergency use authorizations (EUAs) to address the COVID-19 pandemic, a series of actions designed to lower regulatory hurdles. Despite these developments, the agency is keeping a close eye on issues, such as product claims, and both federal and state agencies are in a position to prosecute for hoarding and price gouging.

COVID-19 has disrupted science in the way it has disrupted everything else. In the short term, universities have largely closed shop as a way to maximize social distancing, and lots of science – or at least, lots of bench work – is not getting done.

As the demand increases for ventilators to treat Americans with severe symptoms of COVID-19, another shortage is being exacerbated – a shortage of the drugs needed to treat patients on ventilators.