12 March 2013

Researchers in Sherbrooke have discovered a new antiviral that blocks the progression of the flu virus.

Dr. Martin Richter, a professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the Université de Sherbrooke, and his team have identified a new function of the enzyme matriptase. Blocking this enzyme’s activity can significantly impair replication of the flu virus.

Dr. Richter and his co-investigators, medical chemist Éric Marsault and biochemist / pharmacologist Richard Leduc, have developed new molecules for which they have filed an international patent application.

This new class of molecules paves the way for the development of new influenza antivirals. As things stand, there are only two types of antivirals approved for treating the influenza (flu) virus.

Possible Marketing Partnership

The Société de commercialisation et de valorisation de l’Université de Sherbrooke (SOCPRA – University of Sherbrooke’s marketing and development company) holds the intellectual-property rights to the results of this research, which are available for marketing partnerships.

The Sherbrooke team’s research findings have been published in the highly respected Journal of Virology.

Source: Université de Sherbrooke