On Jun. 11, 2020, Innovation Pharma and researchers at a U.S. Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL) announced they are collaborating on a federal grant application to be submitted this week.

The proposed research aims to evaluate Brilacidin as a potential pan-coronavirus therapeutic, for treating SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV, including extending the current in vitro testing of Brilacidin to in vivo testing. Longer-term objectives include potentially performing additional research to develop Brilacidin as a broad-spectrum antiviral, with possible application beyond coronaviruses, e.g., treating other viruses, such as encephalitic alphaviruses and filoviruses.

The ongoing Brilacidin anti-SARS-CoV-2 research being conducted at the RBL is separate from the ongoing research being performed at a Public Health Research Institute (PHRI). The lead researchers at both the RBL and at the PHRI have informed the Company they plan to submit their findings, separately, upon completion of in vitro testing, for peer-review publication.