Latest news with #Galidesivir
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A 19-year-old won $100,000 for inventing a cheaper, faster way to make antiviral drugs out of corn husks
Adam Kovalčík, age 19, innovated a cheaper, faster way to produce an antiviral drug. Galidesivir targets RNA viruses like COVID-19, Ebola, and Zika but hasn't completed clinical trials. Kovalčík won a $100,000 science fair award for using corn waste to synthesize the drug. When Adam Kovalčík flew to Ohio for an international science competition, he did not expect to come home with $100,000. The 19-year-old from Dulovce, Slovakia won that sum on Friday, though, because he developed a faster and cheaper way to make an experimental antiviral drug called galidesivir, which targets RNA viruses like COVID-19, Ebola, and Zika virus. "This could be a huge step to help prevent some of these RNA viruses," Chris RoDee, a chemist and retired patent examiner, told Business Insider. Early studies have shown galidesivir can attack RNA viruses, but it has not undergone full clinical trials. Kovalčík thinks he can encourage further research by slashing the cost of producing the drug — from $75 per gram to about $12.50 per gram. That's because he used corn waste to synthesize twice as much of the drug in just 10 steps, rather than the 15 steps currently required for manufacturing. Kovalčík even went one step further: He used his method to make a new drug that could also fight RNA viruses. Kovalčík presented his findings at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Columbus, Ohio, this week. The judging committee, which RoDee chaired, chose Kovalčík for the competition's top prize: the $100,000 George D. Yancopoulos Innovator Award. "I cannot describe this feeling," Kovalčík told BI after receiving the award in a lively ceremony on Friday. "I did not expect such a huge international competition to be won by someone from a small village in a small European country, so it was just pure shock." Student research at ISEF does not go through the rigorous peer-review process that studies pass before they're published in scientific journals. However, RoDee said that Kovalčík's chemistry was "really elegant" and his presentation to the judges was "bulletproof." Kovalčík's big cost-saving innovation started with corn husks. Well, it started with furfuryl alcohol, which comes from corn husks and is relatively cheap compared to other starting points for making drugs. One by one, Kovalčík added chemicals to a flask of furfuryl alcohol in the lab, like building blocks adding to the molecule, until he got a crucial sugar called aza-saccharide. It only took seven steps to get there. From there, it was only three more steps to get galidesivir. "He was able to shortcut this entire process," RoDee said. "He basically halved the number of steps because he just went in through a different door." Kovalčík's process takes five days. The conventional manufacturing method, he said, takes nine days. Eventually, he produced another drug, too. Based on early computer calculations, Kovalčík thinks his new molecule could be five times as effective as galidesivir against COVID-19 — binding more strongly to enzymes to kill the virus. Kovalčík said he's filed a preliminary patent on his drug-synthesis process. He also plans to work more with a research group at the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, which has supported his project so far. To be used commercially, Kovalčík's drug-manufacturing process would have to scale up. At the moment, he said, he's struggling to find a way to make more than 200 liters of galidesivir. He also plans to work with the university researchers on improving other drug-synthesis processes. "They actually have much more designs and much more new drugs to prepare and test," he said. Kovalčík's ambitions don't end with advancing drug manufacturing, though. He said he also wants to use his chemistry skills and prize money to start a company that manufactures eco-friendly perfumes from corn. "From the first time I stepped foot into a lab, I knew that I wanted to do something related to chemistry," Kovalčík said. Now that he's won recognition for it, he added, "I feel incredible." Read the original article on Business Insider
News.com.au
01-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
ASX Health Quarterly Wrap: Island completes Phase 2a/b dengue trial
Special Report: It's been a tricky few months for the ASX health sector, weighed down by global geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty and concerns over potential policy shifts under a second Donald Trump US presidency. Investor jitters have grown amid staffing upheaval at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where reported mass layoffs under Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) were swiftly followed by a partial rehiring, raising then easing concerns about the regulator's ability to manage clinical trials and drug approvals. Against the uncertain backdrop, Stockhead's healthcare clients have been showing signs of resilience reporting business as usual in their latest quarterly reports. Island Pharmaceuticals (ASX:ILA) During Q3 FY25 Island completed its Phase 2a/b PROTECT trial of ISLA-101 in dengue fever with top-line results from both cohorts forecast to be reported in May. Island completed Phase 2b enrolment and dosing on schedule and with no delays in February after announcing in November the trial's safety review committee (SRC) deemed ISLA-101 safe and exhibiting evidence of anti-dengue activity. Pharmacokinetic data for 2b cohort was received post quarter-end with target blood level concentration achieved in all participants. During the quarter Island continued to advance pipeline expansion opportunities, with particular focus on the opportunity to acquire Galidesivir from Nasdaq-listed BioCryst Pharmaceuticals. Galidesivir is an antiviral with a broad spectrum of activity across more than 20 RNA viruses, including high-priority threats such as Ebola, Marburg, MERS, Zika, yellow fever, and SARS-CoV-2. The company raised $1.94 million during Q3 FY25 via the exercise of more than 32 million options, which expired in March. The options were issued to shareholders who took part in Island's fully underwritten rights issue in March 2024, which raised ~$1.94m. Island carried out several shareholder engagement and promotional activities during the quarter, highlighted by presentations at two major investor conferences and a series of meetings with Australian investors. Net cash used in operating activities totalled $874,000 for Q3 FY25, primarily related to R&D associated with its Phase 2a/b PROTECT trial, as well as administration and corporate costs. Island ended the quarter with $4.82m in cash. "Q3 FY25 marked a period of considerable progress, underscored by key developments for the Phase 2b cohort of our PROTECT trial, which has the potential to highlight ISLA-101's utility as a treatment for dengue fever," CEO and managing director David Foster said. Tryptamine said it made advancements in the clinical development pathway its novel IV-infused psilocin formulation TRP-8803 during the March quarter. The company inked a clinical trial research agreement with Swinburne University to start what it describes as a "world-first" open-label trial to assess the safety, feasibility and efficacy of TRP-8803, when administered together with psychotherapy for adult patients with binge eating disorder (BED). The trial will recruit 12 patients, in two six-person cohorts, with participants to be administered two doses of TRP- 8803 two weeks apart. In January CEO and managing director Jason Carroll presented Biotech Showcase in San Francisco. The conference provides private and micro-mid-cap biotechnology companies with the opportunity to present and connect with investors, industry participants and executives. BDO Audit Pty Ltd was appointed as auditor in January, following resignation of William Buck Audit (VIC) Pty Ltd. Tryptamine has also appointed Hamish George as company secretary, following the resignation of David Franks. Tryptamine held $4.58m in cash at the end of the quarter with an expected ATO R&D tax refund of ~$900,000 to $1m. "The work undertaken during the last quarter has laid a very strong foundation for the coming months, allowing the Company rapidly advance its clinical development pathway for TRP-8803," Carroll said. Dimerix (ASX:DXB) During the March quarter Dimerix continued to progress its ACTION3 phase III trial of lead drug candidate DMX-200 in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), including holding a positive Type C meeting with the FDA in March 2025. The meeting confirmed the acceptability of proteinuria as an appropriate endpoint for full marketing approval in the US. The company said 183 patients have currently been randomised/dosed in the ACTION3 trial with the first paediatric patient recruited. During the quarter Dimerix entered in exclusive licence deal with Fuso Pharmaceutical Industries to develop and commercialise DMX-200 in Japan to treat FSGS. It is the third licensing agreement that Dimerix has successfully executed for DMX-200 in FSGS with the company saying it continued to receive strong partnering interest. In other highlights for the quarter Dimerix was admitted to the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries index and presented at several key conferences. The company had net operating cash outflows for the quarter of $4.3m. It ended the quarter with $17m cash. Dimerix said this does not include the anticipated $4.1m first milestone payment from its Fuso licensing agreement anticipated in the second quarter of 2025 or up to $6.3m from the exercise of outstanding options expiring in June. Post quarter the company today announced it had inked an exclusive licensing deal with Nasdaq-listed Amicus Therapeutics to commercialise its phase III drug candidate DMX-200 in the US. Optiscan (ASX:OIL) Optiscan said a highlight of the quarter was the unveiling in February of InForm, its next generation microscopic medical imaging device specifically for pathology laboratory workflows which marks a significant milestone in technological advancements for the company. InForm is a first-in-class microscopic medical imaging device specifically designed to transform pathology by delivering real-time digital insights across the full workflow from the very point of contact with a tissue sample. The company completed beta-phase work on its cloud-based Telepathology platform with feedback from potential users gathered. Optiscan said the insights were analysed and addressed, leading to implementation of various enhancements with the company on track to deliver the final minimum viable product for its Telepathology platform in Q4 FY25. The company has also significantly progressed plans to enter the veterinary market. Development of a dedicated veterinary product continues with a prototype device also set to be unveiled this quarter. As planning for a trial at Royal Melbourne Hospital started during the quarter, Optiscan said more InVue systems were being manufactured. Patient recruitment is anticipated to begin in Q4 FY25, with early-stage data to shape protocols for expanded clinical trials planned for the US in FY26, pending US FDA approvals. During the quarter Optiscan's regulatory team worked closely with expert consultants in strategising the best regulatory path forward for its InVue and Inform devices. New key executive appointments were made also made during the quarter to implement Optiscan's transformation plan that is strategically focussed on clinical, regulatory and commercial outcomes. The company has also undertaken significant enhancements to its Melbourne facilities in preparation for increased demand on its manufacturing and assembly capabilities and extensive R&D work During the quarter Optiscan received a $1.775m R&D tax refund, which was $1m more than in previous years, due to its successful Advance and Overseas Finding application.
