Development of a novel theranostic platform to fight the Coronavirus

The fast spread of SARS-CoV-2 infections worldwide is still causing severe pressure on health care systems because effective therapies for symptomatic Covid-19 patients are still lacking. In the COVABELP project, the Radboudumc and the Technical university Eindhoven have joined forces with the company ImmunoPrecise Antibodies and bring together complementary expertise to develop a novel effective targeted nanomedicine approach that can be used for therapy and diagnosis. 

The societal impact of COVABELP will be that people with severe symptoms due to SARS-CoV-2 infection will get access to inhalation medicines that will decrease symptoms by preventing ongoing virus proliferation and infection, and will not be able to spread virus via exhaled aerosols. This will reduce the number of hospitalised people needing intensive care and will reduce hospitalisation time. By reducing pressure on hospitals, the need for lock downs will be eliminated with the potential to return to normal life.  

COVABELP will accomplish its goals by making well characterised virus-targeted nanoparticles that are composed of elastin like peptides and which, upon inhalation, form large complexes with SARS-virus particles, preventing these from infecting new cells in a patient and thereby tempering clinical symptoms. The prediction is that such particles will be taken up by immune cells and presented to the immune system, resulting in an anti-virus response in the airway mucus. 

Upon successful completion, COVABELP will translate its scientific results into an applicable inhalation therapy system, together with partners in pharmacy. A side product will be a quick test, using the same modules that are used for the nanomedicine composition.