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Innovation & Technologie Angebot

Methodologies for antiviral efficacy and toxicity of drugs against new Covid-19

Country of Origin: Italy
Reference Number: TOIT20200525001
Publication Date: 25 May 2020

Summary

An Italian company, highly skilled in all preclinical stages of compound development, drug development and drug combination studies, has implemented a series of methodologies to study antiviral efficacy and toxicity of drugs, against new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, having access to different viral strains for testing. 
The Italian company is interested in commercial agreements with technical assistance, technical or research collaborations.

Description

Not all laboratories can manipulate viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, as a high biological containment level is required. 

An Italian company based in a Science and Technology Park, has access to a newly built Biosafety Level 3 (BSL3) facility (50 m2 lab space) where new coronavirus expansion can be performed and infected cell cultures can be maintained. The BSL3 facility has been validated and certified for ISO requirements by leading company with 40 years’ experience in building clean rooms and high containment biosafety laboratories. 

The Company’s main mission consists in the development of drug composites directed to overcome the underlying cellular perturbations common to viral diseases and cancers, especially as regards:

•	Dysregulation of cellular transcription;

•	Uncontrolled cell proliferation.



Its key operational fields are viral diseases and oncology. The Company is developing compounds against viral infections such as Hepatitis B, Human Papillomavirus, Epstein-Barr virus. In addition to this, given its unique mechanism of action, the company is running a program in the field of oncology. The Italian company is raising high interest from various pharmaceutical companies because of the research programs.



The Italian company has now access to different SARS-Cov-2 strains and having background in infectious diseases, high experience in drug combinations and drug development in general, was able to develop robust methodologies to test drugs (or other materials, such as antibodies) for anti-coronavirus activity. In detail:

- Testing efficacy of drugs against SARS-CoV-2;

- Testing cytotoxicity of drugs.



The company is interested in entering in contact other pharma companies that might be interested in such a know how, through commercial agreements with technical assistance (strong background of the research team can give specific technical advice).

Company can also be interested in technical o research and cooperation agreements with other companies or research organisations interested in submitting proposals under Horizon 2020 or other research programmes.

Advantages and Innovations

The company has now access to different SARS-Cov-2 strains and having background in infectious diseases, high experience in drug combinations and drug development in general, was able to develop robust methodologies to test drugs (or other materials, such as antibodies) for anti-coronavirus activity. In detail they can offer both:

- Methodology of testing efficacy of drugs against SARS-CoV-2:

The Italian company can test drugs in MRC5 cells (human lung fibroblasts) and VERO (green monkey kidney epithelial cells) infected with different viral isolates from patients infected by SARS-CoV-2. Viruses have been made available through a research collaboration with Italian institutes active in fight against Covid at national level. Viral replication will be measured through ELISA revealing viral nucleoprotein. An IC50 (inhibitory concentration 50%) value will be calculated from a dose response curve.



- Methodology of testing cytotoxicity of drugs:

In parallel testing of the cytotoxicity of drugs can be performed by MTS (MTT) assay, a TD50 (toxic concentration 50%) value will be derived from a dose-response curve.

 IC50 and TD50 values will be relevant to get a Therapeutic Index calculation.

Stage Of Development

Project already started

Requested partner

The company is open to several types of cooperations: commercial agreements with technical assistance with other pharma companies that might be interested in such a know how and in applying it to specific own researches; company can also be interested in technical o research and cooperation agreements with other companies or research organisations willing to submitting proposals under Horizon 2020 or other research programmes.