# A CETR-based partnership accelerator for rapid drug development targeting SARS-CoV-2 and pan-CoVs

> **NIH NIH U19** · HACKENSACK UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · $619,850

## Abstract

SUMMARY
The unprecedented COVID-19 global health crisis is fueled by the absence of an effective vaccine and no specific
antiviral drugs. Consequently, major research efforts have focused on identifying efficacious therapies. The most
effective short-term solution is repurposing and repositioning of approved drugs or clinical-stage drug candidates,
as this approach shortens the time to the clinic. Furthermore, as there are no drugs against any zoonotic
coronaviruses associated with human respiratory infections, pan-coronavirus drug regimens are vital to counter
future outbreaks. To best address this urgency, a drug development Accelerator has been established as a
formal partnership between our NIH Center of Excellence in Translational Research (CETR) and Merck and
Co., Inc., a global leader in the discovery and development of antiviral drugs. The CETR program, which is
focused on novel and repositioned drugs against high-threat bacterial infections, provides a comprehensive
platform for drug discovery. Merck brings a full complement of approved antiviral drugs and advanced candidates
for repurposing and repositioning, with an emphasis on novel nucleoside and protease inhibitors. Firstly, small
molecule compounds representing both FDA approved drugs and clinical stage drug candidates discovered
against other viruses will be evaluated in viral cytopathic and neutralization assays to assess inhibition of SARS-
CoV-2. Lead candidates will be assessed for EC50/90/CC50 values, ADME pharmacokinetics, and safety to
determine their potential for immediate use in therapy. If data supports a robust therapeutic window, then
repurposed compound(s) will be submitted for an IND under FDA EUA. A rodent model utilizing SARS-CoV-2
infection will be used to assess in vivo PK/PD parameters supporting clinical dose ranging and safety margins.
Secondly, a pan-coronavirus drug development candidate will be identified from either drug repositioning or from
Merck’s focused compound libraries for existing antiviral classes discovered against other conserved viral
targets, as well as new lead series to host and viral targets representing >65 mechanisms of action. These
compounds will be screened in a high throughput virus challenge assay. SAR will benefit from the multi-million
compound Merck sample collection via in silico substructure and similarity searches. Lead compounds will be
assessed for robust in vivo therapeutic efficacy against SARS-CoV-2; metabolic stability, toxicity, ADME,
rodent tolerability; pharmacologic properties consistent with QD or BID dosing, and acceptable safety
margins supportive of initiation of first in human clinical studies. The ultimate goal is the identification of
development candidates that can enter preclinical IND enabling safety derisking studies. This is an
unprecedented public-private partnership for drug discovery The goal of this drug Accelerator is to identify a
repurposed compound(s) that can treat COVID-19 patients within 4-6 m...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10187269
- **Project number:** 3U19AI142731-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** HACKENSACK UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** David S Perlin
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $619,850
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-08-25 → 2021-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10187269

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10187269, A CETR-based partnership accelerator for rapid drug development targeting SARS-CoV-2 and pan-CoVs (3U19AI142731-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10187269. Licensed CC0.

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