Sirona Biochem Corp. announced that it has received results from its research collaboration with the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) to advance Sirona's antiviral library of compounds. The ICGEB has successfully screened a library of 20 compounds produced at Sirona's subsidiary TFChem as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 using specialized assays developed at the centre.

The work was performed at the ICGEB's Laboratory of Molecular Virology located in Trieste, Italy under the direction of Dr Alessandro Marcello, an internationally recognized expert in Human Virology. Of the 20 compounds, 6 showed antiviral activity with one of particular interest. The selective index of the compounds, which relates to potency verse toxicity, is not sufficient to choose a lead compound.

Based on these results and other research, the team at TFChem will expand the library to add 5 to 10 new compounds. Sirona's collaboration agreement with the ICGEB will be extended to test these new molecules. Testing is scheduled to begin in the next 2 months.