Funds from the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute, with additional support from Oracle high-performance cloud computing and Genscript, enabled the team headed by Professor Christiane Schaffitzel from Bristol’s School of Biochemistry and Professor Imre Berger from the Max Planck-Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, to make ground-breaking research into COVID-19.
This research has now lead to the launch of a new British biotech company, Halo Therapeutics Ltd, that is developing break-through and newly patented potential treatments for coronavirus.
Halo Therapeutics Ltd is preparing for clinical trials into pivotal, cost-effective antiviral treatments for COVID-19, after discovering a molecule which changes the shape of the virus's spike protein and in so doing inhibits the virus’ ability to enter cells. Studies show the treatments are potentially 'pan-corona antivirals' in that they will work against all coronavirus strains - including the highly contagious 'UK (Kent)', 'South African' and 'Brazilian' variants.
The company is preparing for clinical trials. If approved, the antivirals could be used by patients globally at the first sign of COVID-19 symptoms – stopping the virus in its tracks.