Innovative antiviral drugs: PANVIRIDE project with the University of Sassari

A public-private network coordinated by Prof. Marco Radi of the University of Parma (Unipr) will focus on the identification and development of innovative broad-spectrum antiviral drugs for defense against emerging viral threats. This is the PANVIRIDE project, which involves the University of Sassari.

The INF-ACT Foundation, established under the PNRR on infectious diseases and emerging threats, has announced the allocation of a €2 million PNRR funding to a multidisciplinary pharmaceutical research project dedicated to the identification and development of new antiviral drugs. This is the PANVIRIDE project "Preparedness Against Newly-emerging Viruses: Innovations in Research, Intervention, and Drug Evolution," which proposes a strategic and innovative response to the challenges posed by emerging viruses through the development of broad-spectrum antivirals.

While vaccines are undoubtedly essential tools in the fight against infectious diseases to tackle emerging viruses (which may cause future pandemics), it will be necessary to be prepared with pharmacological treatments capable of effectively acting in both prophylaxis and therapy against a wide range of pathogens. The PANVIRIDE project will create flexible therapeutic solutions that can act promptly to limit the spread of emerging viruses and to treat infectious diseases for which effective therapies are not yet available.

The two-year project involves, in addition to the coordinator Prof. Marco Radi (Unipr), the Italo-American pharmaceutical company Virostatics (whose laboratories in Tramariglio are located at the Porto Conte Research Park in Sardinia, under the responsibility of Dr. Franco Lori) and five other Italian universities: University of Perugia (Prof. Oriana Tabarrini); University of Pisa (Prof. Simone Brogi); University of Salerno (Prof. Gianluca Sbardella); "Magna Grecia" University of Catanzaro (Prof. Stefano Alcaro), and for the University of Sassari, Prof. Antonio Carta of the Department of Medicine, Surgery, and Pharmacy.

The skills provided by the University of Sassari, particularly by the Department of Medicine, Surgery, and Pharmacy, will include not only pharmaceutical chemistry but also pharmacological, chemical-physical, organic, and biochemical expertise necessary for the development of innovative drugs.

The substantial funding will also allow the consortium to recruit new young researchers, enhance already advanced research, and explore promising innovative approaches, thus leveraging the PANVIRIDE team's experience in the development of new antiviral drugs for the INF-ACT Foundation. The collaboration between the involved universities and Virostatics promises to integrate academic and business expertise to provide concrete and effective responses to emerging medical challenges with cutting-edge pharmacological tools.