CytoTools AG will cooperate with Activoris Medizintechnik GmbH, in the development of its novel therapeutic approach for viral infections such as COVID-19 and influenza. Following completion of the project planning, both companies have signed a partnership agreement to this effect. The aim of the cooperation is to introduce the virtually side-effect-free active ingredient DPOCL, which has been shown to be extremely effective in other indications, directly into the lungs in an inhaled therapy approach. The project is to be rapidly brought to a licensable stage as part of the collaboration. The steps that will now follow include first performing an aerosol characterization to determine the optimal inhalation device and the appropriate therapy parameters. Immediately thereafter, the effect of inhalation administration of DPOCL as an aerosol within the organism will be investigated in further toxicological studies. Until completion of the clinical proof-of-concept, the project planning assumes costs of around EUR 0.8 million. The efficacy of DPOCL on the Sars-CoV-2 virus in combination with human CaCo-2 cells has already been investigated in cell culture experiments conducted at the end of 2020 by the University Working Group Medical Virology of the University Hospital Frankfurt. Here, a dose-dependent effect was observed, confirming over 90% efficacy with the highest dose and demonstrating the virucidal efficacy of DPOCL. In the company's internal test series with commercially available inhalers, the nebulization of DPOCL in saline solution has also already been successfully tested. It can therefore be assumed that the positive results can also be replicated in the human study to be conducted. This would make it possible to combat the virus directly in the lungs or in the area of the bronchi and upper respiratory tract, i.e. at the entry barrier of the virus into the body, at a very early stage. The good tolerability of the active substance solution offers the advantage that a comparatively complication-free treatment can be started at a very early stage of an infection.