New Zealand-based biotech firm, Kimer Med, has announced a new contract for the development of antiviral drugs. The project is financed by the U.S.-based Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).
As stated in their March 7 press release, the contract between Kimer Med and Battelle is valued at up to $750,000. The primary focus will be on the discovery and development of new antiviral drugs for treating alphaviruses.
"Approved antiviral drugs are currently available for only 11 out of more than 200 viruses that cause widespread sickness, suffering and death in humans. Our mission is to change that. We're developing a family of broad-spectrum antivirals capable of treating many of these infections. This contract is an important milestone for Kimer Med, as it provides another opportunity to prove the capability of our platform for rapid, broad-spectrum antiviral development," said Rick Kiessig, CEO of Kimer Med.
According to the National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health, alphaviruses can manifest in multiple forms. One form may present symptoms such as fever, headache or encephalitis; another is characterized by fever and rash. Diagnosis typically involves clinical evidence and known risk of exposure. Confirmation of these diagnoses relies on virus isolation and identification.
Battelle offers scientific solutions to a variety of sectors including healthcare, national security, infrastructure and environment as per its website.