Human Influenza viruses (IVs) are highly contagious pathogens that cause annual epidemics and recurrent pandemics in the human population. According to the WHO, IVs are responsible of 290 000 to 650 000 deaths every year1 and remain a major health concern. Since vaccines have suboptimal efficacy and antivirals induce side effects and drug resistance, the burden of disease caused by influenza highlights the need for the development of new therapies.

The replication of IVs is initiated by the interaction of the viral hemagglutinin protein (HA) with complex sialosides located at the surface of the host cells. This process is regulated by multivalent interactions involving multiple HA trimers and host glycoproteins and glycolipids, and enables the entry of the virus inside the epithelial cells of the upper respiratory tracts.2 An alternative to the use of vaccines and antivirals is the development of an antiadhesive therapy.3 Based on the theory of the “multivalent effect”,4 a rational drug design was performed to produce multivalent sialosides exhibiting potent HA inhibition activity on the virus/host cell interactions.

We describe herein the development of such a new biotherapeutic candidate -GlycoFlu- that efficiently binds to human IV. This compound is made of oligosaccharides terminated by a sialic acid residue produced in recombinant E. coli cells through the cell factory technology,5 and then grafted on a polymeric support by a chemical coupling. GlycoFlu shows strong antiviral activities against A-H1N1, A-H3N2 and B influenza viruses in different preclinical models of IV infection. Overall, these results demonstrate that GlycoFlu is suitable for large-scale manufacturing with a low environmental footprint and has the potential to become a truly disruptive intranasal antiviral treatment with potential clinical benefit to Flu patients while having a preventive effect against viral transmission

Antoine Rousseau is a researcher at AIS Biotech, based in Grenoble, France. Specializing in biotechnology, his work focuses on innovative solutions and advancements in the field. He operates out of the company’s office at 22 rue St Ferjus.