Formed in late 2021 due to the Omicron surge, the Infectious Diseases (incl. COVID-19) expert group attempts to influence policy in terms of therapeutic deployment through report writing, stakeholder engagement, responding to consultations and more. In 2022, they were very active, operating in a crisis mode with frequent meetings and working on issues such as the deployment of antivirals to treat COVID-19. This included conducting workshops with stakeholders to produce a report. In a pandemic, patients need access to treatment fast, and the challenges of generating robust evidence of efficacy and safety have posed very difficult questions for public health, drug developers, contract research organisations and academics, regulators, health care providers and patients. It was in this light that the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine DEfining MEdical NeeDs and Evidence (DEMENDE) workshops brought representatives from public health, drug developers, contract research organisations and academics, regulators, health care providers and patients to make recommendations for further activities to ensure that future respiratory viral infection waves are managed in the most effective and fair way.