LDS reaffirms commitment to fighting viral diseases: the PANVIR.NET Project

LDS is the leading institution in PANVIR.NET Project together with VisMederi Research srl, Accurange srl, Pharma Development and Services srl, University of Siena, University of Florence, and University of Pisa.

PANVIR.NET is co-financed in the framework of POR FESR Toscana 2014-2020, Azione 1.1.5 sub-azione a1; Bando 2 “Progetti di ricerca e Sviluppo delle PMI”

Objective of PANVIR.NET (Preclinical development of novel panviral agents within a specialized regional network) is to develop new therapies based on broad spectrum antiviral agents against those viruses currently responsible of outbreaks with a potential epidemic or pandemic evolution, thanks to a public-private network localized in Tuscany Region and able to guide and support the antiviral drug discovery and development process.

Recent demographic and climatic changes have caused a wider diffusion of arboviruses such as Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika, West Nile, and novel influenza viruses subtypes, and an increased risk for novel infections or re-activation of persistent infections, such as erpetic infections from cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr, herpes simplex type -1 and -2 e varicella-zoster. Broad spectrum antiviral drugs  that target common components present in several viruses could represent a novel strategy to fight viral infections that are currently without any specific drugs, and to limit the selection of resistant viral strains.

Within PANVIR.NET, LDS and its partners aims to identify at least one novel preclinical candidate for the treatment of viral diseases. This will include the definition of all the tests and methods that are necessary to develop new antiviral drugs through the development and consolidation of a specialized regional network.

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PANVIR.NET è un Progetto co-finanziato nel quadro del POR FESR Toscana 2014-2020; Azione 1.1.5 sub-azione a1; Bando 2 “Progetti di ricerca e sviluppo delle MPMI”

Obiettivo di PANVIR.NET (Sviluppo preclinico di agenti PANVIRali innovativi all’interno di un NETwork regionale specializzato) è lo sviluppo di nuove terapie basate su agenti antivirali ad ampio spettro contro virus che sono causa di focolai con possibile andamento epidemico o pandemico, all’interno di un network pubblico-privato localizzato in Toscana in grado di supportare e guidare il percorso di sviluppo di farmaci antivirali.

Recenti cambiamenti demografici e climatici hanno portato ad una maggiore diffusione di arbovirus quali Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika, West Nile, e nuovi sottotipi di virus influenzali, e ad un accresciuto rischio di nuove infezioni o di riattivazione di quelle persistenti, tra cui le infezioni erpetiche da citomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr, herpes simplex tipo -1 e -2 e varicella-zoster. Farmaci antivirali ad ampio spettro che bersagliano componenti comuni a più virus, rappresentano una strategia innovativa per contrastare infezioni virali per le quali non esistono farmaci specifici e limitare la selezione di varianti virali resistenti.

In PANVIR.NET, LDS ed i suoi partner intendono identificare almeno un candidato preclinico innovativo per il trattamento di malattie virali oltre a definire i test e le procedure necessarie allo sviluppo di nuovi farmaci antivirali, attaverso lo sviluppo e consolidamento di un network regionale specializzato.

Sostegno finanziario ricevuto dall’Unione: 672 708,97 €

 

UNAVIR at SMAU Florence 2016

Smau is the matching platform for innovation and professional continuous training.  For over 50 years, Smau supports Italian companies and professionals to innovate, and it is an opportunity for entrepreneurs, managers, companies, and public administrations to grow up and to catch up on innovation, technology, and ICT.  Smau is a national event roadshow helping public actors and companies willing to look beyond the present and opportunities offered by new technologies, digital world, and most promising start ups.

The event of this year is also dedicated to the synergies among research centres, companies and public funding in the Life Sciences areas as experienced in Fas Salute 2014 Call of Tuscany Region which UNAVIR is belonging to.

UNAVIR is a project aimed at identifying new therapeutic treatments for rare viral infections, such as Dengue, Chikungunya and West Nile and brings together Universities of Siena, Pisa, and Florence and companies, Lead Discovery Siena and VisMederi, to develop innovative treatments of personalised medicine. LDS will contribute to the projects by supporting the design, synthesis and ADMET characterization of new molecular entities active against these virues.

Maurizio Botta, LDS CEO, was the rapporteur on this project at Smau Florence to show its background, the research strategy and its potentialities.

http://www.smau.it/firenze16/schedules/sinergia-tra-centri-di-ricerca-imprese-e-fondi-pubblici-per-le-scienze-della-vita-lesperienza-del-bando-fas-salute-2014-di-regione-toscana/

http://www.meetthelifesciences.it/it/archvio/436-il-bando-fas-salute-2014-protagonista-a-smau-firenze