USAMRIID will test Navrogen’s NAV-201 small molecule against SARS-COV-2 infected human epithelial cells in vitro and in in vivo rodent studies
Navrogen, Inc. has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) at Fort Detrick, Md. The CRADA is focused on testing Navrogen’s small molecule NK cell activating agents on suppressing propagation of SARS-COV-2.
The company announced the research partnership on Sep. 13.
Researchers at USAMRIID have developed model systems to test agents capable of suppressing SARS-COV-2 infection and propagation. Navrogen has assembled a pipeline of compounds that are able to activate human and rodent NK cells to stimulate humoral immune responses and target cell killing of dysregulated cells.
Under this CRADA, USAMRIID will test Navrogen’s NAV-201 small molecule against SARS-COV-2 infected human epithelial cells in vitro and in in vivo rodent studies. This approach offers opportunities to address viral infection and propagation regardless of strain genotype.
“We are pleased to have USAMRIID as a partner to test the utility of our NK cell activating agents against viral disease as we advance our humoral immune enhancing agents towards clinical development,” stated Nicholas Nicolaides, Chief Executive Officer at Navrogen. “The expertise of USAMRIID researchers in testing our agents to combat infectious diseases offers the best opportunity to evaluate compounds with new modes of anti-viral activity.”
Source: Navrogen, adapted.
