conceptual period

Recipient: Helmholtz Zentrum München German Research Centre for Environmental Health (GmbH)
Funding: GO-Bio initial conceptual phase 2nd round (01/10/2021 to 30/09/2022, EUR 99,998.33)

The major epidemics and pandemics of the recent past and present are caused by RNA viruses such as SARS-CoV-2. In order to effectively combat these pathogens, the TheraCas13 research project aims to develop a biotechnology platform that is capable of rapidly developing and providing specific drugs for each virus strain and each possible variant.

This platform is based on an enzyme that acts very specifically against viruses. Various virus classes can be attacked by adapting the enzyme. This newly developed enzyme variant posesses a greatly increased activity, which enables it to inhibit the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in cell cultures by more than 95 percent. In the following steps, the researchers will validate the enzyme variant in an animal model and adapt the drug accordingly.

The aim is to assess a system as a universal, antiviral therapy platform with regard to its commercialisation options, and ultimately establish it in practice. The research project thus contributes to sharpening life science commercialisation ideas and testing their viability in line with the announcement.

feasibility stage

Recipient: Technical University of Munich
Funding: GO-Bio initial feasibility phase 2 (01/10/2022 to 30/09/2024, EUR 908,589.00)

RNA viruses have caused the majority of past and present epidemics and pandemics, such as the coronavirus pandemic triggered by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. To counteract these pathogens effectively, the TheraCas13-2 research project aims to develop a therapy platform that is able to provide a drug for every RNA virus and every variant of it in the shortest time possible.

The basis for the platform is the bacterial immune system CRISPR/Cas, which has been adapted to be highly active in human cells. The system has a modular structure and can therefore be adapted to any RNA virus. An optimised enzyme variant of Cas13 makes it possible to inhibit the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in cell cultures by more than 95 percent. In the feasibility phase, the therapy system will be validated in an animal model to provide a proof-of-principle for the treatment of an RNA virus in living beings.

Furthermore, the team will be expanded, the FtO analysis continued and the commercialisation plan refined. The aim is to develop the system as a universal, antiviral therapy platform.