And unlike vaccines, TIPs are likely to keep one step ahead, producing numerous variants. You might only need to develop a particle once; as soon as it starts working, it'll change on its own.

The emphasis, as you can guess, is on "might" -- the program is only just getting off the ground. DARPA and partners first have to develop TIP candidates, conduct long-term tests to prove that they work and refine them through computer models. The proposal process won't even start in earnest until April 28th. If TIPs work as planned, though, they could do a lot to soften the blow of viruses of all kinds, even when they're severe.