Funding boost to home-grown treatment for Covid

Australian research on a combination antiviral therapy for COVID-19 has been boosted with new funding from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).

Almost $1 million in MRFF funding will support a WEHI-led drug discovery program to develop a powerful therapeutic combination targeting two proteins that help the virus replicate.

The dual approach is designed to fight the emergence of antiviral resistance, a key threat with existing COVID-19 treatments that target a single protein.

At a glance

  • More than $999,600 in new funding awarded by MRFF for drug discovery research working towards a combination antiviral for COVID-19.
  • A multi-disciplinary team will target two key proteins in a combination treatment, to stop the virus replicating and prevent the selection of resistant strains.
  • One of the targeted proteins is linked to the body's immune response, offering hope of potential benefit for the treatment of long COVID.
Photograph of six researchers
L-R: Professor Peter Czabotar (WEHI),

Professor Guillaume Lessene (WEHI), Professor David

Komander (WEHI), Professor Susan Charman (MIPS),

Dr Brad Sleebs (WEHI), Associate Professor

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