The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $1,000,000 Cooperative Agreement under its Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) program (CFDA 47.084) to Akanocure Pharmaceuticals Inc. for lead optimization studies of a novel, broad-spectrum antiviral and immunomodulatory agent against coronaviruses. The funded project aims to design, synthesize, and test analogs of a previously developed candidate molecule with improved drug-like properties for oral administration. These analogs will be evaluated against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants in vitro, subjected to ADME studies, and assessed for their effect on immune mediator production in virus-infected cells. The analog with the best profile will advance to in vivo studies to test its pharmacokinetic, toxicological, efficacy, and immune modulation properties in animal models. This project builds on Akanocure's prior SBIR Phase I research on an antiviral agent (AK-423) and is intended to develop a virus-agnostic drug that can suppress viral replication and restore immune system homeostasis, with the potential to address the current COVID-19 pandemic and future viral threats.
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