Descrizione del progetto
Nuovi farmaci intranasali contro la SARS-CoV-2
La portata dell’attuale pandemia di Covid-19 richiede sforzi concertati per diagnostica, terapie e vaccini efficaci. In questa direzione, il progetto Fight-nCoV, finanziato dall’UE, accelererà lo sviluppo preclinico di nuovi antivirali ad ampio spettro somministrati per via inalatoria. Il lavoro si basa sulla ricerca in corso in merito ai farmaci che bloccano l’ingresso del virus e ne testerà la sicurezza e l’attività contro la SARS-CoV-2 in un modello macaco della malattia. Le informazioni sull’efficacia di questi inibitori intranasali nei primati non umani getteranno le basi per le fasi successive dello sviluppo imminente di questi farmaci per uso umano.
Obiettivo
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.
Campo scientifico
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinatore
10691 Stockholm
Svezia