Meibai Healthcare's Top 9 Global COVID-19 Projects from Public Welfare Matching Initiative

To harness the most advanced global technologies and scientific resources, and to join hands with domestic research teams and enterprises in the fight against the epidemic, MedPartner recently launched the “Global COVID-19 Public Welfare Matchmaking Initiative,” soliciting therapeutic drugs, vaccines, diagnostic technologies, and medical equipment from its 80,000 overseas users for free matchmaking with Chinese institutions and enterprises. As of 7:00 a.m. on February 20, a total of 270 project applications had been received from 22 countries.

During this period, Meibai Medical Health actively recruited scientists in the pharmaceutical field, clinicians, and related professionals from across society, rapidly assembling an authoritative and professional expert team within 48 hours to conduct immediate project reviews. The expert panel comprised a total of 71 judges from various fields, including academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, frontline clinical expert professors from institutions such as China-Japan Friendship Hospital, experts from the Molecular Laboratory of the National Center for Clinical Laboratories under the National Health Commission, council members of the Hubei Provincial Society for Immunology, experts from the Jiangsu Association for Drug Research and Development, doctoral supervisors from the Faculty of Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, as well as numerous renowned chairmen and chief scientists from leading pharmaceutical companies both domestically and internationally.

Following a rigorous and meticulous review by the expert panel, 21 projects have been selected for special attention and will undergo individual online roadshows starting this week. Below are the details of the nine most highly anticipated projects:

Given the high sequence similarity among the enzymes of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV, it is reasonable to hypothesize that drug repurposing of existing MERS and SARS inhibitors may represent the most efficient approach to drug development. This project targets a type III ribonuclease endonuclease, which has demonstrated in vitro efficacy against 40 different viruses, including SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV.

Endonuclease is a protein-based therapeutic with antitumor and broad-spectrum antiviral properties, demonstrating potential activity against COVID-19. Currently in Phase III clinical trials, the drug has demonstrated efficacy and yielded preliminary human safety data indicating a favorable safety profile and low risk. Its potential for accelerated market approval positions it well to address the current emergency situation.

Dodecafluoropentane Emulsion (NaNO2) demonstrates an oxygen delivery efficiency more than 100 times higher than that of existing products. As patients with coronavirus suffer from pulmonary complications and hypoxia, this project leverages NaNO2 to prevent or reverse hypoxia and improve oxygen exchange in patients with virus-associated lung diseases. The project is currently in Phase II clinical trials and has secured patents in both the United States and China.

Patients with COVID-19 frequently present with respiratory symptoms; severe cases are accompanied by varying degrees of hypoxia, and respiratory failure is one of the primary causes of mortality. Perfluoropentane emulsion can be used for the treatment of acute indications, clinically improving hypoxic symptoms in patients and reducing mortality among those with Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (NCP). Analogous agents have been internationally utilized as artificial blood plasma substitutes. Based on their established safety and efficacy profiles, it can be inferred that perfluoropentane emulsion will also ameliorate symptoms associated with low arterial oxygen saturation, thereby benefiting patients by alleviating symptoms and improving survival rates. The project has currently entered Phase II clinical trials, with its safety confirmed, making it suitable for the emergency treatment of critically ill patients.

The following five categories are considered important targets for developing anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs: 3-chymotrypsin-like protease, papain-like protease, helicase, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Structural proteins include the spike glycoprotein. This project falls into this category.

The association between 3CLpro and COVID-19 has been largely confirmed. By inhibiting key viral and host pathways, it suppresses the growth of the novel coronavirus with a clear target. Meanwhile, this project involves drug repurposing of already approved medications, resulting in lower clinical risks. Furthermore, collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Guangzhou indicates that further concrete validation has been achieved in domestic practice, which can shorten the drug launch timeline and rapidly respond to pandemic needs.

Early detection of coronavirus infection is crucial for epidemic control and treatment. The product of this project is a Point-of-Care (POC) diagnostic device that can detect COVID-19, SARS-CoV, and SARS-like coronaviruses within 20 minutes by extracting sputum or saliva from potential patients. This product has been approved by the FDA and received CE certification. Additionally, with only a few weeks of R&D, it can be adapted to detect other variants of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan.

Expert Opinion: Since sputum and saliva contain SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid, this device represents an excellent non-invasive testing method. Its approval demonstrates that its efficacy has been validated; furthermore, it enables rapid detection, making it suitable for the current emergency situation.

This project is a pan-coronavirus inhibitor targeting 3CLpro, leveraging AI to predict and overcome potential future drug-resistant mutations or novel strains, thereby enabling the design of inhibitors effective against drug-resistant pan-coronavirus strains. It has drawn attention from the expert review panel.

The project target is well-defined; 3CLpro is a non-structural protein of the novel coronavirus and a key enzyme in the viral life cycle, potentially effective against COVID-19. The drug’s mechanism of action is clear, inhibiting viral replication and demonstrating potential clinical value.

Leveraging in vitro, animal, and clinical studies on the immunomodulatory effects of traditional Chinese medicine (including polysaccharide peptides and small molecules) to validate the clinical efficacy of this product against SARS-like viral pneumonia (including COVID-19).

Traditional Chinese medicine has currently demonstrated favorable efficacy in patients with mild novel coronavirus infection. Patients may consider using classical traditional Chinese medicine formulations or folk remedies, which may help enhance local innate antiviral immune responses.

Various R&D institutions are actively developing vaccines against the novel coronavirus. This project employs an unconventional approach that activates Th1/CTL responses to produce type 1 cytokines, such as IFN, and express CD40L through non-genetic engineering methods. This process activates and matures dendritic cells (DCs), leading to increased type I interferon production, thereby protecting uninfected cells from viral infection. It can be used to counter-regulate the excessive type 2 immune response associated with severe respiratory symptoms of coronavirus infection. The vaccine is currently in late Phase II clinical trials.

Although fecal-oral transmission of COVID-19 has not been definitively confirmed, the detection of the virus in stool is an established fact. This project is beneficial for reducing viral transmission and potential diarrhea, as well as enhancing the body’s immune resistance. Meanwhile, the safety and efficacy of already marketed drugs are relatively assured, resulting in low clinical risk.

This nasal spray is an RNA-based “viral mimic” that locally triggers the human innate immune response in the nasal mucosa. It provides prophylactic protection against all respiratory viruses, including COVID-19. Its unique components stimulate a non-pathogen-specific host innate immune response. For prophylaxis, one dose per nostril daily can be administered during respiratory virus outbreaks (for up to three months) or short-term following exposure to protect uninfected individuals who have had close contact with infected persons. Preclinical and clinical studies demonstrate that it prevents infection by all RNA respiratory viruses (including coronaviruses, influenza, RSV, rhinoviruses, etc.). Onset of action occurs within 24 hours after the first dose. It reduces viral shedding by 90–95%, significantly decreasing the incidence, severity, and duration of respiratory viral diseases, while still allowing seroconversion. Administered to more than 200 subjects across seven clinical trials, its safety profile was comparable to that of placebo in all trials. It is a highly stable dry powder that does not require cold-chain storage.

For epidemics, suppressing their spread is no less important than treating them. This nasal spray, based on RNA "virus mimics," triggers the human innate immune response and offers convenient administration, thereby aiding in disease prevention and curbing transmission. If the product demonstrates significant advantages, its sales revenue is expected to grow rapidly from economic and market perspectives; furthermore, a broad range of indications will enhance its sustainability.

This drug targets the allosteric site of a multiprotein complex, a host factor for coronaviruses, and is effective against all viruses that cause respiratory diseases.

The target is well-defined. By targeting host factors to inhibit the novel coronavirus, it blocks viral replication and increases the likelihood of curing NCP. As one of the few curative therapies in the project, more animal model data are needed.

Meibo Healthcare will continue to solicit projects from overseas. Please follow our WeChat Official Account and project WeChat group notifications for the latest project information and roadshow schedules.

Special thanks to Yaokahui, Feiyaoquan, and Yiou.com for their extensive promotion of this public welfare matchmaking event, and sincere appreciation to Medical Chinese Network for its strong support. We genuinely hope to work together with all industry colleagues to do our utmost in the fight against the epidemic!