Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles announced on May 5 that they have received up to $12.76 million from the federal government’s Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to further develop a nasal spray designed to block a wide range of viruses.
The funding will support continued research and eventual human trials of a treatment that works by disabling molecules on the surface of viruses, preventing them from infecting cells without requiring an immune response like vaccines do. The project could play an important role in pandemic preparedness by targeting viral entry mechanisms common across many virus families, offering potential protection against future outbreaks.
Research led by virologist Hector Aguilar-Carreno, in collaboration with chemist Adam Braunschweig as co-founders of Synko Pharma Corp and CEO Bob Serrano, has shown promising results in animal and cell studies. The team reports that their synthetic carbohydrate receptors (SCRs) have been highly effective at preventing or reducing severity of COVID-19 in mice and inhibiting several other deadly viruses such as Ebola and Nipah in cell cultures. “When SCRs bind to a glycan, they block its function,” Aguilar-Carreno said. “It’s like putting a stiff brace or a weight on your arm. Your arm is not totally destroyed, but it can’t work normally.”
Aguilar-Carreno also said: “We tested around 65 SCRs on all of the deadliest viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, Ebola, Nipah, Hendra and Marburg, and found four SCRs that work against every single one of these viruses. This is very exciting because our SCRs could be the first true broad-spectrum antivirals.”
The ARPA-H funding under the Synthetic Carbohydrate Receptors for Infection Blocking of the Exposed (SCRIBE) initiative will allow further analysis across more types of viruses in cells and animals. It will also enable tests on infection prevention methods, treatments for existing infections, assessments for toxicity levels and exploration into different delivery methods beyond intranasal sprays.
The University of California Los Angeles operates within the University of California system; it features a 419-acre campus supporting academic and research activities while fostering diverse perspectives through its programs. UCLA has gained national acclaim through achievements including Nobel laureates and MacArthur Fellows according to the official website.
