In this particular instance "not allowed to publish" _definitely_ wasn't the problem, seeing how much crap had been published simply because it has "SARS-Cov-2"

In this particular instance "not allowed to publish" _definitely_ wasn't the problem, seeing how much crap had been published simply because it has "SARS-Cov-2" in its title. The research dynamics around Covid19 are very different from those of some run-off-the-mill treatment that was for the most part developed within the private sector (and might or might not have been met with kindness at the top level management which has been approving the POs) I can easily imagine various pharma companies individually (and without any kind of collusion!) de-emphasizing a cure in favor of a recurring treatment because each follows their self-interest.[1] In this case, money has been thrown at them with the explicit project description "develop a cure so that public policy can return to normal" (and as is quite normal, policy makers want it done quickly so they look good. I can live with that.) [1] It only takes one research facility to work on the same issue without such an incentive to make an entire industry scramble towards having the best cure (because otherwise they'd lose the treatment income _and_ leave the cure to somebody else). Identifying candidates where bean counters optimize for treatments even when a cure is possible, and then investing in such areas, might be public money well spent.