Decoy Therapeutics Targets Endemic Coronaviruses with Weekly Nasal Dose

The pharmacokinetic findings, presented by Chief Technology Officer Dr. Michael Lipp at the Boulder Peptide Symposium in Napa Valley, highlight the potential of the company’s proprietary IMP3ACT platform. By utilizing lipid- and peptide-conjugate engineering, the treatment is designed to remain resident in tissue for an entire week. This approach mirrors the convenience of once-weekly GLP-1 therapies, aiming to eliminate the compliance hurdles associated with daily medication regimens for high-risk populations.

Currently, there are no FDA-approved antivirals or prophylactics specifically for endemic human coronaviruses such as OC43, 229E, NL63, and HKU1. For the more than 20 million immunocompromised individuals and 15 million Americans living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in the U.S. and Europe, these viruses represent a severe health threat. Data indicate that respiratory infections are present in nearly 40% of COPD flare-ups requiring emergency care, with significant increases in the likelihood of ICU admission and mechanical ventilation for infected patients. Decoy Therapeutics expects to transition its DCOY-CoV candidate into clinical trials by 2027.