Avacta reports promising findings on potential Covid therapy
Avacta Group
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16:55 19/04/24
Avacta Group announced on Thursday that collaborative work with the Centre for Virus Research at the University of Glasgow has shown that its ‘Affimer’ reagents, which bind to the SARS-COV-2 (Covid-19) virus spike protein, prevent infection of human cells by a SARS-COV-2 model virus, and therefore provide a potential therapy for Covid-19 infection.
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The AIM-traded firm had recently said that several of the Affimer reagents that had been generated to develop Covid-19 antigen tests inhibited the interaction between the coronavirus' spike protein and a receptor found on human cells, called ACE2, which the virus spike protein binds to as the first step in infecting cells.
It said it had now successfully completed the initial phase of a collaboration with professor David Bhella at the University of Glasgow, showing that those ‘neutralising’ Affimer reagents prevented a SARS-COV-2 model virus from entering human cells, and thus provide a potential therapy for the coronavirus.
It said work was continuing with professor Bhella to further study the way in which the Affimer reagents prevent infection, with Avacta using the growing body of data to secure a large pharmaceutical partner to develop the potential therapeutic candidates rapidly.
“I am delighted that our collaborators at the University of Glasgow have confirmed that these Affimer reagents not only block the spike-ACE2 binding but efficiently prevent a SARS-COV-2 model virus from entering human cells,” said chief executive officer Dr Alastair Smith.
“This is critical information that will help to establish a license deal with a large pharmaceutical partner that has the resources to carry out an accelerated clinical development programme.
“Neutralising therapies could be given to those exposed to the virus, such as health and social-care workers, to prevent infection, as well as to patients already infected by the virus, to help treat and prevent disease progression.”
Dr Smith noted there was “ongoing significant investment” by large pharmaceutical companies such as AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Boehringer Ingelheim and others to develop neutralising therapies for Covid-19.
“We continue to make very good progress across all of our Covid-19 related programmes, as well as our other diagnostic and therapeutic activities, and I look forward to providing further updates in the very near future.”
At 1153 BST, shares in Avacta Group were up 10.73% at 136.2p.