Open Orphan PLC (AIM:ORPH, OTC:OPORF) said its hVIVO subsidiary has recently launched the STRiVE project to collect respiratory viral strains suitable for challenge agents from volunteers at the company.
STRiVE stands for Seasonal Transmissible Respiratory Virus SurvEy and thus far it has identified over 180 ‘promising virus’ candidates that could be used to manufacture agents for its human challenge trials.
Viruses isolated include several strains of coronavirus, adenovirus, human metapneumovirus, human rhinovirus, parainfluenza virus, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus, the company said.
Adrian Wildfire, hVIVO’s director of scientific and business strategy, explained that access to viable strains of circulating respiratory pathogens is extremely limited.
This in turn often presents a “significant obstacle” to researchers seeking to grow a new viral challenge agent.
"STRiVE will allow the company to use its expertise to monitor the viral strains of cold and flu that are circulating in the community, and potentially lead to the discovery of new, wild type challenge agents and the development of new human challenge models with unparalleled translation into the field," Wildfire said.