Adam KovalÄÃk, a 19-year-old from Slovakia, invented a cost-effective method to produce galidesivir, an antiviral targeting RNA viruses like COVID-19, winning a $100,000 award at an Ohio science fair. He reduced production costs from $75 to $12.50 per gram by using corn waste, optimizing the synthesis process from 15 to 10 steps. His innovation aims to stimulate further research into the drug, which has shown promise in initial studies but has yet to undergo full clinical trials. The award underscores the significance of young scientists in addressing global health challenges.
"This could be a huge step to help prevent some of these RNA viruses," said Chris RoDee, highlighting the potential impact of KovalÄÃk's innovation on public health.
KovalÄÃk remarked on the shock of winning the award: "I did not expect such a huge international competition to be won by someone from a small village... it was just pure shock."
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