broad-spectrum therapeutic

A broad-spectrum therapeutic or broad-spectrum antibiotics is a type of antimicrobial active against multiple types of pathogens, such as an antibiotic that is effective against both bacteria and viruses.{{Cite web|date=2015-09-18|title=NIH funds development of new broad-spectrum therapeutics|url=https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-funds-development-new-broad-spectrum-therapeutics|access-date=2020-09-14|website=National Institutes of Health (NIH)|language=EN}} The opposite of a broad-spectrum drug is a narrow-spectrum therapeutic, which only treats a specific or very similar set of pathogens.

Such therapeutics have been suggested as potential emergency treatments for pandemics.{{Cite web|title=Biodefense Strategic Plan {{!}} NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases|url=http://www.niaid.nih.gov/research/biodefense-strategic-plan|access-date=2020-09-14|website=www.niaid.nih.gov|language=en}}