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February 14, 2023

Thylacine Biotherapeutics Licenses Novel Antiviral Peptide Platform from Columbia University

Thylacine Biotherapeutics Inc. ("Thylacine Bio"), a privately held biotech company dedicated to combating infectious disease, announced today it has entered into a license agreement with Columbia University ("Columbia") for worldwide exclusive rights to develop and commercialize a novel antiviral peptide platform.

Leading virologists, Matteo Porotto, PhD and Anne Moscona, MD, President-Elect of the American Society for Virology, of Columbia's Center for Host Pathogen Interaction, invented and refined this antiviral platform. Through a mechanism of action known as fusion inhibition, Thylacine Bio's licensed peptides bind to a specific structure on a virus that is necessary for cell entry. As a result, the peptides prevent infection, maintain potency as a virus evolves, and offer broad spectrum protection.

Platform lipopeptides can be rapidly and reactively engineered to respond to an outbreak within days. Thylacine Bio's lead lipopeptide, THY-01, was identified by the inventors just two weeks after the COVID-19 genetic sequence became known. Other benefits of THY-01 include protection against upper respiratory infection and progression to severe disease, reduction of transmission, and self-administration by delivery via the respiratory tract.

THY-01 also exhibits pan-coronavirus inhibition, with efficacy against SARS-CoV-2, MERS, SARS, and coronaviruses that cause the common cold. The Company is currently conducting pre-clinical studies in preparation for human trials.

Read the full press release from Thylacine Biotherapeutics Inc.

About the Scholar

Anne Moscona

Virology

Anne Moscona, MD

Columbia University
Harrington Award for Coronavirus

More about Anne Moscona