National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; Opportunity for a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to Develop Eosinophil-Derived Neutralizing Agent (EDNA) to Treat Infections in Children and the Elderly Caused by Respiratory Syncytical Virus and Parainfluenza Virus

Résumé

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is seeking capability statements from parties interested in entering into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to develop eosinophil-derived neutralizing agent (EDNA) for the treatment of infections in children and/or the elderly caused by respiratory syncytical virus (RSV) and parainfluenza virus (PIV). RSV and PIV are medically the most important single-stranded enveloped RNA viruses; infections caused by these viruses hospitalize over 100,000 infants per year in the U.S. EDNA is the major eosinophil ribonuclease. Recombinant human EDNA is envisioned as an agent for direct inhalation therapy in patients with established RSV or PIV bronchiolitis, in those with a high index of suspicion, and as prophylactic therapy in children with predisposing conditions (prematurity, bronchopulmonary, dysplasia, congenital heart disease, and immunodeficiency). Recombinant human EDNA has been produced in bacterial and baculovirus expression systems and is not toxic to respiratory epithelial cells. ENDA is a soluble and thermostable low molecular weight protein not requir