SARS-Cov-2: Effective therapeutic approaches with established drugs

The fight against the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic requires persistence: In addition to the vaccination campaign, effective drugs are needed above all to get a better grip on more severe forms of the disease. As part of the DRECOR (Drug repurposing for Corona) project, researchers from eight Fraunhofer institutes, including Fraunhofer EMFT, are taking a pragmatic approach: The team is drawing on existing drugs with known safety profiles to rapidly develop new therapeutic approaches. 

The researchers have compiled a library of around 5,500 components of which a large part has already been clinically tested. From this portfolio, the researchers select test candidates to be analyzed more in detail. The goal is to identify molecules that can prevent corona infection of human cells with sub-µM or µM activity. The most promising drug candidates will be prepared and encapsulated for inhalation by appropriate procedures.

Together with Fraunhofer ITEM, researchers at Fraunhofer EMFT are optimizing a drug nebulizer for the inhalation of encapsulated active ingredients as part of the project. The aim is to deliver controlled amounts of active ingredient in the range of 10-30 µl per breath, while at the same time increasing inhalation efficiency. This will be realized by using a stainless steel micropump developed by Fraunhofer EMFT and a breathing cycle detection system.

In order to be better prepared for pandemic scenarios in the future, the project will also establish a multidisciplinary network of experts from relevant medical disciplines.

The project is coordinated by the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME and funded by the internal Fraunhofer vs. Corona program, funding phase II.