Creating an Antiviral for the Treatment of Zika Virus

SLU ID 18-020 | Selective Estrogen Modulators as inhibitors of Zika Virus

Background

Currently, there are no approved vaccines or specific therapies to treat or prevent Zika virus (ZIKV) infection. There is an essential need for ZIKV therapeutics because of the virus' link to severe diseases such as Congenital Zika Syndrome and Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Drug re-purposing is a possible strategy for finding ZIKV antiviral. As both ZIKV and the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) are members of the Flaviviridae family of viruses, Tamoxifen and other Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERM), which have proven effective in inhibiting the Hepatitis C virus, are strong candidates for developing ZIKV therapies.

Overview

Researchers at Saint Louis University have conceived a potential treatment for Zika Virus infections using a selective estrogen receptor modulator, which has proven to increase survival and decrease weight loss in Zika infected mice.

Benefits

The potential benefits of this technology include:

• Minimizing replication of Zika virus

• Minimizing the occurrence of Congenital Zika Syndrome

• Minimizing the occurrence of Guillain-Barre Syndrome

• Minimizing the mortality of Zika virus infections

• Minimizing weight loss in patients with Zika virus infections

• Increasing the understanding of the viral mechanisms of Zika virus

• Increasing the understanding of the mechanisms of Tamoxifen

Applications

Potential applications of this technology include developing treatments for infections and diseases caused by Zika virus and other Flaviviridae family of viruses.

Opportunity

Saint Louis University is seeking partners to further develop and commercialize this technology.