Adam Kovalčík, a 19-year-old from Slovakia, won the top prize at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair for his groundbreaking method of producing antiviral drugs from corn husks. His innovation reduces the cost per gram from $75 to $12 and cuts production time from 9 days to just 5. The drug, galidesivir, is used to treat RNA viruses like Ebola, Marburg, and SARS-CoV-2.
Kovalčík's process involves using furfuryl alcohol, derived from corn husks, to create aza-saccheride, a sugar that can be converted into galidesivir in fewer steps than traditional methods. He has already filed a preliminary patent and plans to collaborate with researchers to refine the process further.