Testing anti-inflammatory drugs in a mouse model of Influenza infection

Project Member(s): Hansbro, P.

Funding or Partner Organisation: Next Science IP Holdings Pty Limited
Next Science IP Holdings Pty Limited

Start year: 2020

Summary: Next Science is a pharmaceutical company based in Jacksonville (USA). While they specialize in finding novel solutions to antimicrobial resistance, they are now applying their technology to find treatments for SARS-CoV-2 infection induced pneumonia. Next science has a compound that can moderate the inflammatory response of lung tissues to the viral infection, specifically moderation of the response to polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly-IC) activation of toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3). This technology works by binding to the active zinc site of the matrix metalloproteinase, preventing protein hydrolysis and reducing the cytokine response. They will develop a nebulized gel treatment which will be applied to the lungs to bind the zinc in the MMPs. This will have the additional benefit of binding to any free iron which causes oxidative damage to the lungs. This study will be a proof-of-principle experiment as we will test the compounds in mice infected with influenza.

FOR Codes: Respiratory diseases , Respiratory System and Diseases (incl. Asthma), Respiratory Diseases, Clinical health

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