Coronavirus Assets
Advancing our commitment to coronavirus research.
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that range from the common cold to more severe diseases such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and COVID-19.
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is defined as an illness caused by SARS-CoV-2 and was first identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019. This virus has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization and has spread to nearly every country in the world. The impact of this pandemic has been, and will likely continue to be, extensive in many aspects of society.
COVID-19 has caused approximately 7.2 million deaths globally according to an analysis by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). COVID-19 spreads when an infected person breathes out droplets and very small particles that contain the virus. The CDC has recommended vaccinations, wearing masks, and social distancing to protect individuals from acquiring and transmitting COVID-19.
The Pandemic.
Since its inception in December 2019, variant strains of COVID-19 have evolved and continue to impact the number of cases and deaths associated with this pandemic. It is well accepted that in addition to the availability of vaccines, effective and safe therapies are needed to successfully combat the COVID-19 pandemic and any future coronavirus outbreaks.
The Arbutus Approach.
Proven track record
We have leveraged the proven track record of success established with our team’s expertise in understanding and treating viral infections to initiate a drug discovery effort for treating coronaviruses, including COVID-19.
Discovering and developing
We are focused on discovering and developing novel oral pan-coronavirus direct-acting antivirals that target essential viral proteins (nsp12 viral polymerase and nsp5 viral protease) with the potential to reduce hospitalizations and to provide both pre- and post-exposure prophylactic therapy.
Combination Therapy
We intend to advance AB-343, our lead candidate that inhibits the SARS-CoV-2 nsp5 main protease (Mpro) into IND-enabling studies. We are also currently conducting lead optimization activities for an nsp12 viral polymerase candidate.
