#Italy #Drug Discovery #Rome #IRBM #Zika Virus

Major Breakthrough in Zika Virus Drug Discovery by IRBM

IRBM, a leading organization dedicated to early-stage drug discovery, has recently unveiled a significant scientific advancement in the fight against the Zika virus. The company announced the discovery of a novel and powerful allosteric inhibitor targeting the NS2B-NS3 protease of the Zika virus (ZIKV), a finding published in Nature Communications. This research showcases the inhibitor's efficacy in preclinical models and introduces a promising new strategy for combating ZIKV infections, which pose a serious threat to public health due to their association with severe neurological complications.

This latest advancement comes at a crucial time as there are currently no approved antivirals or vaccines to combat the Zika virus. Consequently, the need for effective treatment options is urgent. The team at IRBM has identified a small molecule capable of binding to a previously unknown allosteric site on the NS2B-NS3 protease, a critical enzyme for viral replication.

In biochemical and cellular assays, the inhibitor successfully suppressed the protease's activity and exhibited significant antiviral activity in animal models. Furthermore, it demonstrated a favorable safety and pharmacokinetic profile, reinforcing its potential for clinical development. Notably, this mechanism may extend to other flaviviruses, including dengue fever, yellow fever, and West Nile virus, thereby suggesting a broader therapeutic potential beyond just Zika.

IRBM's integrated approach, which combines high-content phenotypic screening, computational modeling, mechanistic enzymology, iterative medicinal chemistry, and ADME profiling, allowed the research team to quickly transition from initial strain identification to selecting preclinical candidates. Dr. Carlo Toniatti, IRBM's Chief Scientific Officer, emphasized the significance of this discovery as a pivotal moment in antiviral drug development. He remarked, "By leveraging state-of-the-art medicinal chemistry and integrated screening technologies, our team has developed a novel Zika virus protease inhibitor with compelling preclinical activity."

This achievement, funded by the Lazio Region, stems from a collaborative initiative involving the CNCCS and paves the way for targeted antiviral therapies that could fulfill a critical need in global public health preparedness. Moreover, it underscores the joint commitment of the CNCCS and IRBM to tackle rare and neglected diseases through innovative science.

Matteo Liguori, CEO and founder of IRBM, added, "Innovation in drug discovery never happens in isolation. At IRBM, our mission is to bridge the gap between academic discoveries and clinical practice. The success of this project highlights the impact that effective public-private collaborations can have on advancing new therapies."

About IRBM

IRBM specializes in early-stage drug discovery and has decades of experience along with a proven track record of developing innovative preclinical candidates. Renowned for their rigorous multidisciplinary approach, IRBM addresses some of the most challenging drug discovery problems across a wide spectrum of therapeutic areas including antivirals, oncology, neuroscience, and rare diseases.

About CNCCS

The CNCCS is a public-private consortium comprising IRBM, CNR, ISS, and the University of La Sapienza. It serves as a leading research center for drug discovery programs, integrating a chemical compound repository with a high-throughput screening platform (HTS). The consortium's mission is to bridge academic research with pharmaceutical development, focusing particularly on rare, neglected, and poverty-related diseases.

For further details, visit IRBM's official website.