Developing broad-based treatments for respiratory viruses by targeting host cell TTSPs

NIH RePORTER · NIH · R56 · $477,146 · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

Project Summary / Abstract We propose to develop a novel therapeutic for respiratory viruses, including all current and predicted SARS- CoV-2 variants, other coronaviruses, influenza, and paramyxo/pneumoviruses—using a peptidomimetic small molecule approach targeting TMPRSS2 and other trypsin-like proteases (TTSP) that are essential for virus entry. We expect our therapeutic platform to be applicable and effective for prophylactic use, and so we will target virus transmission studies in vivo. As our system is based on simple-to-synthesize peptides, which act outside of the cell, is it expected to be cost–effective, and our approach is specifically designed to cover a range of distinct viruses. However, it is important to note that our platform is highly flexible, and be applicable in the face of a novel viruses that may emerge, without significance anti-viral resistance (as it is host-targeted).

Key facts

NIH application ID
11028136
Project number
1R56AI181271-01
Recipient
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
Principal Investigator
Gary R Whittaker
Activity code
R56
Funding institute
NIH
Fiscal year
2024
Award amount
$477,146
Award type
1
Project period
2024-03-20 → 2027-02-28