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

> **NIH NIH R56** · CORNELL UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $477,146

## 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 organization:** CORNELL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Gary R Whittaker
- **Activity code:** R56 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $477,146
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-03-20 → 2027-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11028136

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11028136, Developing broad-based treatments for respiratory viruses by targeting host cell TTSPs (1R56AI181271-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11028136. Licensed CC0.

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