Amyxa will screen a unique library of diverse marine microorganisms, isolated from normal to extremeophilic environments in US territorial waters, and medicinal plants to discover novel anti-influenza drugs.
According to the company, it has already identified several marine microorganism fractions active against influenza A in cytoprotection assays, and has also discovered an anti-influenza supercritical fluid fraction of a medicinal plant that contains potent anticancer compounds.
“Nature is an excellent source of novel anti-influenza drugs since, over the last three decades covering all diseases, countries and sources, 52% of the 1,031 new chemical entities approved were based on natural products,” said the company in a statement.