A fundamental pillar of future global pandemic preparedness strategy involves building a robust arsenal of direct acting antivirals targeting a broad range of mechanisms of action and viral families. By building such an arsenal, humanity will be better positioned to respond to future emerging viral threats of endemic or pandemic potential. As evidenced by the response to the COVI D-19 pandemic, it is clear that relying on existing therapeutics alone, antiviral or otherwise (the repurposing approach) is far from ideal. Although repurposing has yielded life-saving options for intervention (e.g. dexamethasone) it has also been plagued by inefficiencies and squandering of resources. By far the most promising COVI D-19 therapeutics have their origins in stalled or halted antiviral efforts executed mostly prior to the emergence of the current pandemic (Merck's Molnupiravir, Pfizer oral and i.v. M Pro inhibitors). Similar efforts are now proposed by ASAP, building on the lesson that any pandemic preparedness arsenal should be built from molecules progressed as far into the clinical cascade as possible. The aim of Project 6 is to take the three best novel chemical antiviral chemical series identified by the consortium and progress them towards "Phase I readiness" (IND filing stage or equivalent regulatory assessment). We will initiate preclinical profiling on the best molecules identified in Project 5, focus rapidly down to one preclinical candidate per series, and carry out all required toxicological tests and specific pharmaceutical manufacturing processes to enable first in human administration of the novel chemical entity. In addition to providing a set of IND-filed candidates at Phase I ready status, we will also fully disclose the process followed and data acquired for each. These data and processes can then act as a global pedagogical resource and case studies for the process of preclinical to Phase I translation. ASAP will work in an open-science model, with all molecules ideally developed free of patents and exclusivity, to ensure resulting therapies can be produced rapidly and without hindrance or excessive cost by manufacturers world-wide. The future commercial development and deployment processes for pandemic preparedness are opaque and are an ongoing topic of discussion at the highest level of global society. Driven by the primary goal of providing novel antivirals based on a policy of equitable affordable access, the ASAP Project 6 team will actively engage in and influence these discussions to ensure that the question of global access, and the requirements of potentially neglected patients is fully represented within these discussions.