Respiratory Viral Diseases

Respiratory viral infections remain an important medical problem, accounting for substantial morbidity in the U.S. and global mortality. During the 2023-2024 influenza season the C.D.C. estimates there were at least 34 million symptomatic illnesses, 15 million medical visits, 380,000 hospitalizations, and 17,000 deaths caused by influenza virus infection. While susceptibility to approved antivirals remains high in circulating viruses, reduced sensitivity can arise rapidly, especially in patients with certain pre-existing conditions. There remains no FDA approved pharmaceutical indicated for the treatment of patients hospitalized with influenza pneumonia and the unknown impact of the introduction of novel (emergent/reemergent) influenza viruses.  Taken together, influenza and parainfluenza virus driven hospitalization are an unmet medical need for which no specific intervention exists.

DAS181 is a first-in-class host-directed recombinant sialidase protein derived from Actinomyces viscosus (av).  It was designed to remove sialic acids located on the surface of epithelial cells lining the human respiratory tract.  These sialic acids are naturally present on cell surfaces and are needed by many viruses, including influenza, parainfluenza, and enterovirus D68, for entry into cells. Cleavage of sialic acid on the patient’s respiratory epithelial cells may block viral entry, and provide a host-directed mechanism to treat respiratory viral infections.