iGUARD emerged as the winner in the category “Knowledge and Technology Transfer” among nearly 100 applications. The project builds on groundbreaking collaborative work by Prof. Axel Schambach and Prof. Adrian Schwarzer at Hannover Medical School (MHH), together with Dr. Philippe Vollmer Barbosa and Prof. Armin Braun at the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine (ITEM).
Together, they have established iGUARD as a powerful platform for the rapid development of next-generation RNAi medicines that target the viral genome where it is most vulnerable and least prone to mutation. The approach can be easily adapted to newly emerging respiratory viruses, enabling swift responses to future outbreaks. A special, patented chemical structure of the RNA allows the therapeutic agents to be inhaled directly into the lungs, which increases their effectiveness and reduces severe side effects. A lead candidate for the treatment of parainfluenza is currently in preclinical development.
As MHH’s technology transfer partner, Ascenion has closely collaborated with the scientists for years supporting intellectual property protection of their approach and translation. Ascenion will also assist the team on its path toward start-up formation.
