Intranasal treatment against COVID-19

Unmet Need: Broad protection against COVID-19 and its viral variants

Current methods to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 rely on life-saving vaccines and medications, but as the virus continues to rapidly mutate, vaccinesefficacy decreases. Although additional viral load injections can improve immune defense, there is currently no easy-to-use treatment activating the immune system locally.

The Technology: Intranasal injection for broad protection against COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses

This technology is an intranasal injection which activates an immune defense specifically in the nasal cavity. A glyolipid is delivered intranasally to activate T cells, which in turn activate other immune cells and secrete anti-viral cytokines. Through this cascade, the immune system can develop anti-viral properties in the nasal cavity and show prophylactic protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. This treatment can improve outcomes following COVID-19 but also for other respiratory viruses’ infections.

This technology has been validated with mice.

Applications:

Treatment for COVID-19
Treatment for other viral respiratory infections
Research tool to study T cell activation
Prophylactic use by medical professionals and essential workers
Adjuvant to increase the efficacy of existing vaccines

Advantages:

Broad protection against all SARS-CoV-2 variants and all respiratory viral infections
Easy administration
No virus-induced side effects

Lead Inventor:

Moriya Tsuji, Ph.D.

Patent Information:

Patent Pending

Related Publications:

Li X, Fujio M, Imamura M, Wu D, Vasan S, Wong CH, Ho DD, Tsuji M. “Design of a potent CD1d-binding NKT cell ligand as a vaccine adjuvant” Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Jul 20; 107(29): 13010-13015.

Tech Ventures Reference:

IR CU22118
Licensing Contact: Kristin Neuman