Development of a Product to Prevent Binding of SARS-COV-2 within the Respiratory Airway and Cardiovascular System

The SARS beta coronaviruses, SARS-CoV, which caused the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak in 2003 and the new SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, bind to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors in the lower respiratory tracts of infected patients to gain entry into the lungs. Viral pneumonia and potentially fatal respiratory failure may result in susceptible persons after 10-14 days. Our proposed product will bind to SARS-COV-2 and reduce the opportunity for it to enter the body. If the virus does enter the body, our product can also cross the lung membranes into the bloodstream and also bind to the virus, preventing it from attaching to ACE-2, thereby preventing replication. The intern(s) will examine the dynamics of blocking virus using respiratory and cardiovascular models. The expected benefit to the partner organization will be to obtain Intellectual Property, that can in turn be used to attract Venture Capital investors to provide further funding to guide this project through Clinical Trials.

Faculty Supervisor:

Donald Miller;Vernon Dolinsky

Student:

Nur A Safa;Mateusz Tomczyk

Partner:

utR Biotech

Discipline:

Pharmacy / Pharmacology

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Manitoba