ASAP-0017445 (Moonshot ASAP)
Develop a safe, affordable, and globally accessible, broad-spectrum antiviral targeting future corona virus pandemics
current phase of drug development




updated 21 Feb 2025
There is fundamental lack of potent broad-spectrum antivirals ready to be deployed when the next pandemic hits. Together with partners in the AI-driven Structure-enabled Antiviral Platform (ASAP), AViDD Center, funded by the NIH, DNDi is working to progress the development of back-up compounds to the frontrunner SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) inhibitor named DNDI-6510, initially identified by the Covid Moonshot initiative.
The optimization work led by ASAP has successfully resulted in the design and synthesis of non-covalent broad spectrum coronavirus inhibitors of the MERS and SARS-CoV Mpro with further optimized potency and pharmacokinetic properties, demonstrated in vivo efficacy in pre-clinical models of SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV infections. The leading compound, ASAP-0017445, is currently being progressed through off-target panel screening and extended toxicology studies with the aim to nominate a pre-clinical candidate.
News & resources
- 31 March 2025 – A new pan-coronavirus protease inhibitor possibility, Science
- 26 March 2025 – Antiviral unveiled that goes after multiple coronaviruses, C&EN
- 15 July 2024 – Enabling equitable and affordable access to novel therapeutics for pandemic preparedness and response via creative intellectual property agreements, Wellcome Open Research
- Diamond Light Source, UK
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA
- MedChemica Ltd., UK
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, USA
- PostEra, UK/USA
- Stanford University School of Medicine, USA
- Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel
- Diamond Light Source
- ,UK
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- ,USA
- MedChemica Ltd.
- ,UK
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- ,USA
- PostEra
- ,UK/USA
- Stanford University School of Medicine
- ,USA
- Weizmann Institute of Science
- ,Israel
- PostEra, UK/USA
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, USA
- Diamond Light Source, UK
- Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel
- MedChemica Ltd., UK
- Stanford University School of Medicine, USA
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA
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