ViroCarb
Science & Platform

The Science Behind Our Platform

A host-directed antiviral platform built on 12+ years of peer-reviewed research at the University of Toronto.

HOW IT WORKS • THE MECHANISM

Many viruses, one shared host pathway

Unrelated virus families depend on the same host RNA processing machinery — the steps that turn raw RNA into a usable template for making proteins. Disable it once, and you disable many viruses at once.

Virus enters the host cell
Hijacks host RNA processing
ViroCarb drugs block the pathway
THE VULNERABILITY

Multiple viruses hijack a conserved cellular axis—GPCR signaling driving SR kinase activity—to control viral RNA processing. Both RNA and DNA virus families exploit this same pathway to replicate.

Diverse virus families — Coronavirus, Influenza, Adenovirus, and HIV all converge on the host RNA processing pathway, which GPS543 blocks via a host-process modulator
OUR APPROACH

Building on more than a decade of Canadian research, ViroCarb has developed a platform of small molecules that shut down this pathway — a new route to broad-spectrum antivirals.

PUBLISHED EVIDENCE
Exploiting the Achilles' Heel of Viral RNA Processing to Develop Novel Antivirals

1 Jan 2025 · Viruses 17(1)

SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATION — ROBUST PEER-REVIEWED PRECLINICAL STUDIES

Over a Decade of Peer-Reviewed Validation

Built upon over 12 years of rigorous preclinical research, actively published and validated by the global scientific community in 11+ top-tier journals.

Explore the Science

Intellectual Property Position

Granted

Broad genus — composition-of-matter protection on a new chemical class of antivirals.

Pending

Specific species — GPS543 compound series with demonstrated improved antiviral activity.

Pending

New broad-genus composition-of-matter protection for a second chemical class of antivirals.

VIROCARB NOVEL ANTIVIRAL SMALL MOLECULE PLATFORM

Potent Efficacy Across Virus Families

Demonstrated in vitro and in vivo preclinical models, human organoids, and primary tissues

RESPIRATORY — CORONAVIRUS

SARS-CoV-2

  • Severe disruption of viral RNA levels and replication across Delta and Omicron variants.
  • Also active against seasonal coronavirus in preclinical models.
RESPIRATORY — INFLUENZA

Influenza

  • Near-total eradication of PR8 (H1N1) and avian flu (H5N1) at safe concentrations.
  • Supports viability for acute respiratory intervention.
BEYOND RESPIRATORY

HIV & Adenovirus

  • Proven efficacy in non-respiratory models.
  • Confirms true broad-spectrum reach of the host-directed platform.

Potential to expand to many other viruses, including those lacking treatments and future emerging viruses,

THE PIPELINE • LEAD CANDIDATE

Lead Candidate — GPS543

The first representative of the ViroCarb antiviral class.

SPECTRUM — POTENCY

Broad activity

  • Potent against HIV, coronaviruses, adenovirus and influenza, with more pathogens in testing.
  • Oral efficacy against pandemic-potential avian influenza (H5N1) resistant to first-line treatments.

RESISTANCE — DURABILITY

No viral escape

  • No experimental induction of resistance, in contrast to approved SARS-CoV-2 and influenza drugs.
  • Clinical efficacy and toxicity biomarkers established to track response in future trials.

SAFETY — TOLERABILITY

Well tolerated

  • High oral bioavailability and no toxicity in rodent dose-escalation studies.
  • No cytotoxicity in organ-specific human primary tissue at peak murine plasma levels.

MECHANISM — SCALABILITY

Ready to scale

  • Novel mechanism, distinct from more than 4,500 known agents in human primary tissue.
  • Suitable for large-scale GMP synthesis to supply clinical studies.

Ready to go deeper?

Request our full scientific data package or connect with our CSO directly.

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