Voxcan takes position in the in vitro screening of antivirals against respiratory viruses
 

Development of human and animal primary cultures and reporter viruses
 

The recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has highlighted the risk posed by respiratory viruses as well as the need to develop rapid and more realistic in-cell compound screening tools. Indeed, although vaccines have been rapidly developed against SARS-CoV-2, it is essential to combine the vaccine approach with the discovery and use of new antivirals.

 

With this in mind, Voxcan, in collaboration with the Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie de Montpellier (IRIM, CNRS-University of Montpellier), has obtained support from the French Ministry of “Higher Education, Research and Innovation” through a CIFRE thesis grant.

 

A PhD student has been recruited for the development of a screening system for molecules with antiviral potential on primary respiratory epithelia. The respiratory tissue architecture will be recreated from cells derived from human and/or animal biopsies (in a OneHealth perspective) and the use of reporter viruses will allow the rapid and robust identification of drug candidates activity against influenza viruses or SARS-CoV-2 in these epithelia.