Therapeutic Molecules

RNA viruses such as influenza, SARS CoV-2, and West Nile Virus continue to be detrimental to public health. The nature of RNA viruses to change over time allows them to evade antiviral therapies that target the virus. The ITI is creating new broad spectrum antiviral therapeutics that boost the human immune system to attack infectious virus.

Our therapeutics target the intracellular RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) pathway, which triggers early innate immunity against RNA virus infection. Our work has demonstrated the remarkable therapeutic potential of targeting the RLR pathway and the actions of the retinoic acid inducible gene I (RIG-I) protein to limit virus replication and spread.

We have developed and patented a novel RIG-I agonist RNA (RAR) based on a 100 nt RIG-I specific pathogen associated molecular pattern (PAMP) motif identified in the genome of hepatitis C virus. This RAR RNA has broad spectrum antiviral activity to suppress a wide range of RNA viruses including influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, emerging flaviviruses and emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.