Safe and effective broad-spectrum antivirals

Polysaccharides, mimics of heparan sulfates present in cells, that are effective in treatment and prevention of viral infections. They act as a decoy trap to prevent the virus from adhering to epithelial cells, thus slowing down the process of infection, and by directly inactivating the viral particles.

Market need: TViral respiratory infections are the most common illnesses in humans, resulting high economic and health care burdens. Few effective antiviral options are available to treat these respiratory infections. In addition, antiviral compounds to treat viral infections are of high utility for treating both current and future pathogens with pandemic potential due to the limited options currently available. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of new broad-spectrum antiviral therapies against both existing and future viral pathogens, including respiratory infections.

Proposed solution: Many viruses have evolved to use the heparan sulfates present on the surface of host cells as an attachment site before entering the cell. The identified compounds are heparan sulfate mimics that act by coating the viral particles preventing their binding to cell surface and inactivating the viral particles (virucidal). They are promising for the treatment of a wide variety of virus infections that use this common attachment mechanism.
In particular, they have demonstrated effectivity against two key respiratory viral pathogens, SARS-CoV-2 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), including proof of efficacy studies in multiple in vitro and mouse models.

Competitive advantages

Broad-spectrum: proven antiviral activity against viruses from different viral families, including two key respiratory pathogens (RSV) and SARS-CoV-2.not penetrate mucosa and are eliminated by passing through the gastrointestinal tract.
Extensive toxicological and biodistribution studies are available.
Derived from green, readily available materials.