Atriva Therapeutics develops first-in-class host-targeting therapies, specifically zapnometinib, to treat severe viral infections such as influenza and COVID-19 by modulating the host's immune response. The company addresses the need for effective antiviral treatments in the face of emerging respiratory viruses, with promising results from completed Phase I and Phase II clinical trials.
Funding
$45.2M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
HHFounders
Product
Problem
Current antiviral treatments for severe viral infections often target viral proteins, leading to drug resistance due to high mutation rates. Existing medications may also have short therapeutic windows, limiting their effectiveness once symptoms appear. This creates a need for therapies that can address a broad range of viral infections and overcome resistance mechanisms.
Solution
Atriva Therapeutics is developing host-targeting therapies, with a focus on zapnometinib, to treat severe viral infections like influenza and COVID-19. Zapnometinib inhibits the Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway within host cells, which is crucial for the replication of many RNA viruses. By targeting a host cell factor rather than viral proteins, the therapy reduces the likelihood of drug resistance. Zapnometinib also modulates the body's pro-inflammatory cytokine response, preventing an overactive immune reaction and associated complications.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes patients hospitalized with severe viral infections, such as influenza or COVID-19, and high-risk patients with preconditions like asthma, heart disease, or COPD.
Features
- Targets the intracellular Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway, essential for RNA virus replication
- Inhibits viral genome protein complex export from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, blocking new viral particle formation
- Modulates pro-inflammatory cytokine response, mitigating potential cytokine storms
- Demonstrated antiviral efficacy against various influenza virus strains, hantavirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in preclinical studies
- Orally available small molecule drug (tablet)
- Successfully completed Phase I clinical trial demonstrating safety and tolerability
- Phase II study in COVID-19 showed promising results, underpinning the mechanism of action and safety profile