Research project Fight-nCoV

The consortium will accelerate preclinical development of new broad-spectrum antivirals for inhalation. 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 and in vivo. Safety studies will be performed according to OECD guidelines of Good Laboratory Practice.

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: the single-strand nucleotide ssON, macromolecular inhibitors, and molecular tweezers. We will also build capacity for innovation and preclinical evaluation of our broad-spectrum antivirals 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.