Researchers from the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), together with seven European partners, will investigate how they can develop antiviral therapy to fight coronaviruses.
They do this within the SCORE project (Swift Coronavirus Therapeutic Response) that has been selected for Horizon 2020, the European subsidy program for Research and Innovation in Europe.
The work has already started while the final formalities are being processed. Researchers are looking for antiviral drugs that can be used in the short or medium term to treat patients and limit the spread of coronaviruses.
The LUMC collaborates with the universities of Aix-en-Provence / Marseille, Leuven, Utrecht, Bern and Lübeck, the Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung and Janssen Pharmaceutica.
In the next six to nine months, combination treatments should be developed for patients infected with the coronavirus.
To realize this, the researchers are going to work with the best antiviral options that are currently available. They are looking into whether they can be further developed in the short term and thus be used clinically.
Scientists are investigating the effect of virus inhibitors
Within the project, the researchers also want to study how certain medicines block the multiplication of the virus and how the virus can possibly escape this again.
This information is crucial to improve virus inhibitors. The research also yields so-called ‘molecular tools’ and infection models. This can accelerate the development of antivirals.
These materials and models are made available worldwide to interested researchers from universities and companies.
Knowledge is also used to combat future outbreaks
The new treatment options and the development of better drugs may help to limit the spread of the current coronavirus in the short term.
The researchers also want to gain more knowledge about coronaviruses, so that we will be better prepared for future outbreaks of other coronaviruses.
A major medium-term goal is to develop inhibitors that can inhibit more related coronaviruses and possibly even the entire virus family.
In addition to this project, the LUMC is also involved in another project. This involves investigating a potential COVID-19 vaccine in the laboratory and clinic for effectiveness and safety.
Follow the latest developments around the virus in us live blog.
The coronavirus in short
- The coronavirus mainly spreads through sneezes and cough drops. The virus can be transmitted directly from person to person or (for a limited time) through surfaces such as door handles.
- An infected person infects two to three others on average. Precautions are necessary to contain this.
- The vast majority of patients have mild (flu-like) complaints.
- Nearly all deaths involve the elderly or other frail, such as heart, lung or diabetes patients. If everyone complies with the measures, this reduces their risks.
- Read here what precautions you should take.
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