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FIGHTING-OFF CORONAVIRUS (SARS-CoV-2) WITH BROAD-SPECTRUM ANTIVIRALS: ESTABLISHING ANIMAL VIRAL CHALLENGE MODEL

Project description

New intranasal drugs against SARS-CoV-2

The extent of the current COVID-19 pandemic demands concerted efforts towards effective diagnostics, therapies and vaccines. In this direction, the EU-funded Fight-nCoV project will accelerate the preclinical development of new broad-spectrum antivirals administered via inhalation. The work builds on ongoing research on drugs that block viral entry and will test their safety and activity against SARS-CoV-2 in a macaque model of the disease. The efficacy information on these intranasal inhibitors in non-human primates will lay the foundation for the next step in the development pipeline of these drugs for human use.

Objective

Project coordinator: Professor Anna-Lena Spetz, MD, PhD, Stockholm University, Sweden

Objectives of proposal: Our consortium “Fight-nCoV” will accelerate preclinical development of new broad-spectrum antivirals for inhalation, building on breath-taking ongoing research. We will determine and characterize the antiviral activity and safety of three viral entry inhibitors (oligonucleotide, Macro-I, tweezer) against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and in vivo. To enable this, we will build capacity for evaluation of antiviral efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro using viral pseudotypes and wild-type SARS-CoV-2 as well as in vivo in non-human primates. Safety studies will be performed according to OECD GLP guidelines.

Expected results: We will establish a SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudotype system allowing a standardized high throughput evaluation of the antiviral activity of candidate drugs. We will have determined the antiviral efficacy of three novel broad-spectrum viral entry inhibitors: oligonucleotide, macromolecular polymers, and molecular tweezers. We will also build capacity for innovation and preclinical evaluation of our broad-spectrum antivirals and vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 by establishing a macaque challenge model. “Fight-nCoV” will provide efficacy data of our drug candidates given intranasally in non-human primates challenged with SARS-CoV-2, enable an early and valuable outcome for stakeholders and the civil society.

Timeline of proposal: Ongoing-30 months

Key partners: Roger Le Grand, Director animal facility, CEA, France; Urban Höglund, CEO Adlego Biomedical, Sweden; Jan Münch, Professor in Molecular Virology, UULM, Germany; Alexander Zelikin, Associate Professor, formulation expert, AU, Denmark; and Thomas Schrader, Professor of Chemistry, UDE, Germany.

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Topic(s)

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RIA - Research and Innovation action

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) H2020-SC1-PHE-CORONAVIRUS-2020

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Coordinator

STOCKHOLMS UNIVERSITET
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 604 690,00
Address
UNIVERSITETSVAGEN 10
10691 Stockholm
Sweden

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Region
Östra Sverige Stockholm Stockholms län
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 604 690,00

Participants (5)

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