Axxam SpA, a privately-owned innovative Partner Research Organization (iPRO), announced its commitment to support the identification of antiviral therapies to treat the severe acute respiratory syndrome COVID-19, caused by the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
Axxam is developing a series of in-vitro biochemical and cell-based assays using artificial pseudo-viral particles. These assays will be suitable for the identification of novel virus-specific small molecule inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 cellular uptake and biological pathways. We will be conducting High Throughput Screening campaigns using different small molecule libraries including known/approved pharmaceutical compounds for repurposing studies.
These activities will also include the identification of antivirals for other members of the Coronavirus family like SARS-CoV-1 and MERS which might pave the way to generate Pan-Coronavirus acting drugs.
A network of external collaborations with key academic and medical institutions is already in place so that we can leverage a wide range of competences and experiences to move forward this program in an effective and comprehensive way.
As Axxam is based in Italy, one of the most heavily affected countries from this pandemic, we have a strong sense of responsibility and motivation to apply our drug discovery experience and competences to the worldwide efforts of developing therapies against this devasting virus.
For more information: www.axxam.com