Targeting human glycoproteins to treat infectious diseases

“Pneumagen” official website

According to foreign media , recently , “ Pneumagen ” received 4 million pounds of financing, this round of financing led by Thairm Bio, Scottish Investment Bank (SIB ) Participation.

Pneumagen, headquartered in St Andrews, Scotland, UK, is a spin-off company of the University of St Andrews in Scotland, which aims to help people treat infectious diseases by targeting human glycoproteins.

The company is using its platform technology GlycoTarge to produce carbohydrate binding modules (mCBM), which are derived from glycans from bacterial glycosidases. “Pneumagen” uses mCBM as a new treatment for the prevention and treatment of respiratory tract infections (RTIs). These engineered mCBMs ​​bind to glycan receptors on the surface of epithelial cells in the respiratory tract , And then achieve the goal of prevention and treatment of RTIs.

“Pneumagen” mCBM used to treat cancer is called “Neumonco”. In vitro data indicate that mCBM can target cancer cells, reduce cell proliferation, migration, metabolism and differentiation, thus having a positive effect on cancer treatment.

The company intends to use the funds from the new round of financing to continue the clinical development of Neumifil to prevent and treat COVID-19. Under the leadership of CEO Douglas Thomson, “Pneumagen” is advancing the development process of Neumifil.

Neumifil is the main product of “Pneumagen”, used to treat RTIs caused by influenza virus (IFV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and coronavirus COVID-19. It innovated the treatment plan of RTIs, Can provide comprehensive protection for patients from respiratory pathogens and new viruses with pandemic potential. Through clinical trials, “Pneumagen” Proved Neumifil infection of IFV and RSV It has the effect of prevention and treatment after exposure, and has no toxicity.

“Pneumagen” official website

“Pneumagen” obtained the financing based on the data obtained in the COVID-19 clinical study. The results of this work were released on April 28, 2020. Tests conducted at the Porton facility in the Public Health (PHE) of England and the MRC Virus Research Centre at the University of Glasgow proved that Neumifil has the effect of inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Kerry Sharp, director of SIB, said that scientists around the world areDay by day efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the development of vaccines may take months or even years, so the development of effective treatments is essential. The positive results of the early research of “Pneumagen” are a very important step. SIB hopes that the company can quickly develop corresponding drugs to help protect people from the negative effects of the current pandemic.