Development of RNA therapies against SARS-CoV-2, other coronaviruses and influenza viruses for pandemic preparedness

Despite the availability of effective vaccines and some treatment options, SARS-CoV-2 (CoV2) -the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic - and its variants continue to circulate. Due to the limitations of current treatments (contraindications and rebounds after treatment interruption for Paxlovid; intravenous injections for monoclonal antibodies), effective and simpler to use antiviral medications are still needed to help reduce the morbidity and mortality from the ongoing pandemic. Other coronaviruses and influenza viruses will certainly emerge in the future and they have a pandemic potential. To decrease the risks that we faced with the COVID-19, a work-flow to rapidly respond to them would be extremely helpful. RNA therapies represent a promising strategy to quickly target these viruses. In response to the COVID19 pandemic, our groups have developed small therapeutic RNAs specific against CoV2 and a group of small RNAs that enhance innate immune responses against coronaviruses and influenza viruses. We will further develop them to bring them to clinical trials so that they can be used by intra-nasal delivery. Based on those, we will develop a work-flow to quickly synthesize antiviral RNA therapeutics and test them against these two families of viruses to be ready once a new viral pandemic with a respiratory virus emerges.