Claritas Pharmaceuticals (formerly Kalytera Therapeutics) and Salzman Group (SG) have entered a strategic collaboration agreement to accelerate the development of Claritas’ nitric oxide-releasing compound, R-107, for the treatment of Covid-19, influenza and other viral infections.

Claritas also plans to sign these agreements with other companies to conserve capital and speed up the development.

Partnering with companies for manufacturing R-107, as well as for designing and concluding clinical studies, Claritas will demonstrate its safety and efficacy in treating the infections.

Under the agreement, Salzman Group will provide its full capabilities to Claritas, including its expertise in working with nitric oxide and nitric oxide-releasing compounds.

Furthermore, Salzman Group will extend its knowledge of R-107 manufacturing, clinical study designing and consulting services to Claritas’ interactions with regulatory bodies in the US, the UK, the EU and Australia.

Salzman Group chairman Dr Andrew Salzman said: “Nitric oxide has a well-documented safety profile and has been demonstrated to be effective against a wide variety of viruses.

“We are delighted to be working with Claritas to develop R-107, not only as a therapy for vaccine-resistant Covid-9 infection but also as a broad-spectrum antiviral drug for the treatment and possible prevention of future viral outbreaks, including viruses that cause influenza and the common cold.”

On another note, ISA Pharmaceuticals BV is set to begin a Phase I dose-finding study of novel Covid-19 immunotherapy, ISA106 for healthy volunteers.

The latest development comes after the company concluded its pre-clinical work of ISA106, which is designed to elicit a robust T-cell immune response against SARS-CoV2.

Meanwhile, Hoth Therapeutics (HOTH) has reported data from a pre-clinical study of a novel peptide therapeutic, HT-002, for preventing and/or treating Covid-19 showing low-level viral inhibition assay with no toxicity to the host cell.

The company noted that one or more peptide candidates can be combined to obtain maximum viral inhibition.