$10 Billion Deal, page-9126

"But why did they even bother with other compounds when it was clear BIT225 was the fastest road to success ?."

Personally, I believe that some of the other compounds may even be better, but would have taken much longer to develop as a Covid cure, simply because BIT225 has already been tested for toxicity and has also been trialed in HIV patients (humans), that would be a hell of a leg up surely?
I think they may have realised that BIT225 would have a faster path to market, don't be surprised if the other compounds come later and are possibly even better in some ways? all in my own opinion!

GOOD, BETTER, BEST comes to mind.