TMEM16 series

DNDi is collaborating with SVKM’s NMIMS (Mumbai, India) and the Indian Institute of Technology (Gandhinagar, India) to identify affordable antiviral drugs effective against SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses of pandemic potential. The project focuses on the synthesis and optimization of novel salicylamide derivatives, which show potent antiviral activity against a range of different virus families, including corona and flaviviruses, with a low potential for the development of drug-induced resistance.

The current aim is to identify compound candidates with improved human plasma exposure compared to existing drugs – such as niclosamide and nitazoxanide – and to select a lead candidate compound suitable for pre-clinical studies. The project includes medicinal chemistry and pharmacokinetic studies, antiviral testing, and pharmacological evaluation.

Compounds included in the study will be analysed and assessed in two steps:

1. Medicinal chemistry and pharmacokinetic studies of novel salicylamide derivatives
2. Antiviral test cascade and pharmacological evaluation in vitro and in vivo of suitable lead compounds

All medicinal chemistry work is being performed in India with the goal of further strengthening academic drug discovery research in the country. The results of the project will be shared widely through open access publications.