MBW lab Photo: Niklas Björling
MBW lab Photo: Niklas Björling

 

-By developing a broad-spectrum antiviral treatment, we are simultaneously building preparedness for future epidemics, when the next animal-human viral transmission occurs, says Anna-Lena Spetz.

Urgent need for knowledge

In January, the European Commission announced a total of EUR 10 million in research grants to meet the great need for covid-19 research on vaccine development, treatment and diagnostics. Due to the urgent need for new knowledge, an additional € 37.5 million was released and 17 projects with 136 research teams have now been selected.

Effective treatment

The Fight-nCoV project, which includes Stockholm University, will receive € 2.8 million, which will be used to develop a new type of antiviral treatment with effect against the new corona virus, but also against other viruses that attack the upper airways, such as the RS virus.

Anna-Lena Spetz
Anna-Lena Spetz Foto: MBW

-Our solution with broad-spectrum antiviral treatment has the potential to be used against airway viruses where we currently lack effective treatment, says Anna-Lena Spetz.

European cooperation

With these funds, research teams in Germany, Denmark, France and Sweden will work together to test the effect of drug candidates on the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which produces the disease covid-19, in test tubes and in animal models.

Collective research

Fight-nCoV, which is expected to last for two years, is based on several years of previous research. Key persons in collaboration are Anna-Lena Spetz (Stockholm University), Roger LeGrand, (CEA, France), Urban Höglund, (Adlego Biomedical, Sweden), Jan Münch (Ulm University, Germany), Alexander N. Zelikin (Aarhus University, Denmark) ), Thomas Schrader (University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany).