SCIENTISTS in Scotland hope to begin clinical tests of a new anti-viral drug which has had ‘very positive results’ in laboratory tests against deadly Covid-19. Pneumagen, a University of St Andrews spin-out company, carried out three separate in-vitro studies into preventing coronavirus infections, The successful studies involved both treating infection and blocking new infections. Pneumagen now wants to begin clinical testing for the prevention and treatment of Covid-19. “Our goal is now to rapidly begin clinical testing for the prevention and treatment of Covid-19.” : Chief executive Douglas Thomson. The Science behind it Chief executive Douglas Thomson said: “Today’s positive results from in-vitro studies of our mCBMs against coronaviruses show that glycan-binding has the potential to prevent and treat infection. “This further supports the value of our universal therapeutic modality to block access to lung cells of Sars-CoV-2, as well as other viruses, that cause respiratory tract infections, providing the potential for a pan-viral respiratory product. Neumifil, Pneumagen’s lead mCBM, is already being developed for the universal treatment of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) including Influenza Virus (IFV), Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and now coronaviruses. Scientists said Neumifil’s novel mechanism of action, masking glycan receptors in patients’ airways and thereby preventing the entry of the virus, has the potential to revolutionise the treatment of RTIs by providing clinicians with the opportunity to offer patients total protection against any circulating viral strain.