Scientists at the University of Liverpool have been collaborating across different disciplines over the past three years to identify and help translate COVID-19 antiviral treatments.
A recently published paper details how academics at the University worked with partners including Bicycle Therapeutics to achieve proof of concept for the application of a novel small molecule modality, known as Bicycles, a form of bicyclic peptide, to inhibit infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Unlike the vaccine which offers immunisation, this approach could allow treatment of SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19, in infected individuals.
This research continues the world-leading work on COVID-19 by the University’s Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology’s Centre of Excellence in Long-acting Therapeutics (CELT) and the Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences (IVES).
Professor Andrew Owen, Professor of Pharmacology & Therapeutics at the University of Liverpool and a Director of CELT said: “By applying fundamental principles of pharmacology and our established understanding of COVID-19 we were able to exchange knowledge, offer advice and demonstrate proof of concept for Bicycle Therapeutics using our COVID-19 infection models.
“Earlier this year the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that COVID-19 no longer represents a global health emergency, however this work plays a key role in the ability to respond to any future challenges we may face with COVID-19 and potentially other viral threats. Further development work is needed, but this marks the first step towards demonstration of the potential of these initial findings.”
Professor James Stewart, Chair of Molecular Virology in IVES said: “This work in an exemplar of industry-academia collaboration that has enabled the further development of an exciting new therapeutic platform which will be applicable not only to COVID-19 but also to future pandemic threats cause by known agents or ‘disease X'”.
Dr Michael Skynner, Chief Technology Officer Bicycle Therapeutics said: “This work demonstrates how innovative new treatments can be rapidly developed and tested through close industry academic collaboration. This publication demonstrates that Bicycles have utility as anti-virals and as such, form part of the armamentarium ready to rapidly respond to future pandemic threats”.
The Centre of Excellence in Long-acting Therapeutics
CELT is a cross-faculty research initiative combining the University of Liverpool’s world leading expertise in pharmacology and materials chemistry and working with international partners to disseminate research findings in long-acting medicine and change the global landscape of drug administration.
The paper, ‘Multivalent bicyclic peptides are an effective antiviral modality that can potently inhibit SARS-CoV-2’ (DOI:10.1093/cid/ciac802) is published in Nature Communications.