Breaking News: AVITHRAPID Publishes Key Data to Accelerate Drug Development for Dengue
Breaking News: AVITHRAPID Publishes Key Data to Accelerate Drug Development for Dengue AVITHRAPID has announced a breakthrough in the fight against dengue fever by publishing critical protein models for all four dengue virus (DENV) serotypes. These open-access data represent a transformative step in identifying high-potential viral targets for drug development, offering the global scientific community an invaluable resource to combat this widespread and growing threat. The World is in the Grip of a Record Dengue Fever Outbreak: What’s Causing It, and How Can It Be Stopped? Dengue fever, transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, has emerged as one of the fastest-growing viral threats globally. Once limited to tropical regions, the disease is now spreading to new geographies, including parts of Europe, due to changing climatic conditions, rapid urbanization, and increased global travel. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that half the global population is at risk of infection, with severe cases leading to hospitalization or even death. Access here the Global Dengue Surveillance from WHO What makes dengue particularly challenging is its unpredictability: To halt the spread of dengue, an integrated approach is essential: This is where AVITHRAPID steps in with its cutting-edge contributions. AVITHRAPID Efforts: Advancing Drug Development with Open-Access Data As part of its mission to revolutionize antiviral therapeutics, AVITHRAPID has developed a pipeline to model the proteins of all four dengue virus serotypes using the SWISS-MODEL platform. These models are crucial for identifying viral proteins that can serve as promising targets for new drugs, paving the way for innovative treatments. The project team has now made these protein models publicly accessible, enabling researchers and drug developers worldwide to leverage this resource for therapeutic breakthroughs. This open-access initiative not only accelerates scientific discovery but also fosters collaboration across disciplines to combat dengue fever effectively. By providing critical data and computational insights, AVITHRAPID is setting the stage for the development of life-saving therapies, reaffirming its role as a leader in pandemic preparedness and response. Explore the models and join the effort to address this global challenge: Model Archive. AVITHRAPID is funded by the European Union under grant agreement no. 101137192.
Press Announcement: AVITHRAPID at the International Conference on Pandemic Preparedness in Trieste
Trieste, Italy – The AVITHRAPID project is excited to participate in the upcoming International Conference titled “Pandemic Preparedness: Achievements, Current Challenges, and New Frontiers” from 11 November 2024 at the prestigious Savoia Excelsior Palace in Trieste, Italy. Organized by Area Science Park in collaboration with the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), this event is part of the PRP@CERIC project, dedicated to exploring preparedness for emerging and re-emerging viruses with pandemic potential. This conference convenes leading scientists to explore epidemic risks from known and emerging viruses. It will focus on prevention, surveillance, drug discovery, and treatment, fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration among experts in artificial intelligence, virology, genomics, and more. The event aims to encourage multidisciplinary cooperation and the development of comprehensive strategies to combat pandemic threats. Topics of discussion will include: As part of its involvement, AVITHRAPID will present its latest achievements and discuss its approach to drug repurposing, bioactivity screening, and rapid-response research. Members of AVITHRAPID’s Work Packages will meet to evaluate project milestones, share insights, and strategize on future initiatives, particularly in drug discovery and pandemic preparedness. For live updates and more information on AVITHRAPID’s activities during the conference, follow us on social media and visit our website. Contact Silvano Coletti, Head of Communication AVITHRAPID Project, Executive Director Chelonia, silvano.coletti@chelonia.swiss The AVITHRAPID Project The European consortium “Antiviral Therapeutics for Rapid Response Against Pandemic Infectious Diseases” AVITHRAPID is part of the EU Horizon Europe Framework Programme topic “Pandemic preparedness and response: Broad spectrum anti-viral therapeutics for infectious diseases with epidemic potential”. The AVITHRAPID research consortium comprises 18 research institutions and companies from 8 countries, coordinated by the German Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. AVITHRAPID started in January 2024 with a duration of 54 months and a budget of 7.5 million EUR. The Swiss Partners in the AVITHRAPID consortium are funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI. The aim of AVITHRAPID is to establish a pipeline of early-stage drug candidates based on a set of small molecules whose bioactivity has been shown and which can be rapidly translated into novel antiviral agents against emerging diseases. In addition, the AVITHRAPID consortium aims to test a small molecule against Zika virus in a clinical trial. AVITHRAPID is funded by the European Union under grant agreement No 101137192 and by the Swiss Confederation, State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI. www.avithrapid.eu
Combating viral diseases with innovative therapeutic approaches
Basel, 22nd February 2024 – To combat and prevent pandemic infectious diseases more efficiently, the European Commission funds within the Horizon Europe Framework Programme a topic on “Pandemic preparedness and response: Broad spectrum anti-viral therapeutics for infectious diseases with epidemic potential” with a 50 million EUR budget. The AVITHRAPID (Antiviral Therapeutics for Rapid Response Against Pandemic Infectious Diseases) consortium with 18 research institutions and companies from eight European countries under the leadership of the German Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft will receive a contribution of 7.5 million EUR to develop new substances against infectious diseases. In addition, the Swiss partners in the AVITHRAPID consortium are funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI. Establishing a pipeline of preclinical drug candidates The AVITHRAPID consortium is focusing on small molecules whose bioactivity against several viral drug targets has already been shown. Various innovative technologies such as molecular modelling, biochemical and cell-based assays, X-ray crystallography, medicinal chemistry, biophysical binding studies, ADMETox profiling and in vitro and in vivo pharmacokinetics are used and combined to develop preclinical drug candidates. “Better preparation for future pandemics is extremely important. We want to support this by building up a pipeline of preclinical drug candidates that can be used to rapidly identify and develop antiviral agents against emerging infectious diseases,” says the project coordinator Prof. Björn Windshügel from the Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP in Hamburg, explaining the aim of AVITHRAPID. Clinical trial with a potential anti Zika virus drug candidate The proof of concept for the research approach followed by the consortium is to test a small molecule against Zika virus in a clinical trial as part of AVITHRAPID. The research project will also identify other molecules that are potential drug candidates against SARS-CoV-2, hepatitis and other pathogens. “In the ambitious landscape of AVITHRAPID, harnessing advanced Artificial Intelligence and large-scale molecular simulation at Dompé farmaceutici is a game changer. AI not only accelerates our drug development processes but also aligns perfectly with the consortium’s goal of rapidly identifying and developing antiviral agents. Our involvement in AVITHRAPID positions us at the vanguard of integrating AI to expedite breakthroughs against emerging infectious diseases. AVITHRAPID has further strengthened Exscalate’s commitment to delivering affordable treatments against pandemics, a mission that began with the EXSCALATE4COV project.” says Dr. Andrea Beccari, Vice president of Exscalate Platform from the Italian pharmaceutical company Dompé farmaceutici, one of the 18 participant and partner institutions in the AVITHRAPID consortium. The establishment of a pipeline of scientifically validated early-stage drug candidates is intended to motivate investors to get involved in the field of infectious diseases and to build partnerships with the pharmaceutical industry to develop new therapies. This will create a European “ecosystem” for combating infectious diseases that show pandemic potential. It will also increase knowledge about viral diseases in the European healthcare system, which is a crucial factor in the prevention of future pandemics. The AVITHRAPID Project The European consortium “Antiviral Therapeutics for Rapid Response Against Pandemic Infectious Diseases” AVITHRAPID is part of the EU Horizon research programme call “Pandemic preparedness and response: Broad spectrum anti-viral therapeutics for infectious diseases with epidemic potential”. The AVITHRAPID research consortium comprises 18 research institutions and companies from 8 countries, coordinated by the German Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. AVITHRAPID started in January 2024 with a duration of 54 months and a budget of 7.5 million EUR. The Swiss Partners in the AVITHRAPID consortium are funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI. The aim of AVITHRAPID is to establish a pipeline of early-stage drug candidates based on a set of small molecules whose bioactivity has been shown and which can be rapidly translated into novel antiviral agents against emerging diseases. In addition, the AVITHRAPID consortium aims to test a small molecule against Zika virus in a clinical trial. www.avithrapid.eu Cordis EU research results