AB Science SA, together with the University of Chicago announced the signing of an exclusive licensing agreement for conducting research on the prevention and treatment of humans infected with nidoviruses, coronaviruses and picornaviruses. This collaboration follows the discovery by the University of Chicago that masitinib inhibits the main protease (3CLpro) necessary for the SARS-CoV-2 viral replication cycle. Under this agreement, AB Science will supply masitinib and more than 130 other AB Science proprietary drugs that have demonstrated activity against SARS-CoV-2 main protease 3CL-Pro via virtual screening methodology, and will benefit from the proprietary research platform of the University of Chicago. The University of Chicago will perform the following research activities: Enhance the preclinical program of masitinib against SARS-CoV-2; Initiate investigation with masitinib against other viruses that are dependent on protease 3CL-Pro for replication; and Test and identify analogues of masitinib active against SARS-CoV-2 protease 3CL-Pro. To secure and consolidate patent positions, AB Science and the University of Chicago will merge their patent rights related to masitinib or masitinib analogues related to virology applications. The University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation worked with the researchers to file the associated patents and then completed the license agreement with AB Science. In case of commercialization in viral disease, AB Science will benefit from an exclusive, royalty-bearing license on any discoveries made with AB Science products (1% of net sales on first registered product and 0.3% of net sales on further registered product to be paid to the University of Chicago). Masitinib in COVID-19: Research led by the University of Chicago have shown that masitinib inhibits 3CLpro, a SARS-CoV-2 protease that is crucial for virus infection and reproduction, by directly binding to the protease catalytic site. Key points from this research article include: The study objective was to identify safe-in-human drugs with potential anti-coronavirus properties from an initial library of 1,900 compounds, either approved for human use or with extensive safety data in humans (Phase 2 or 3 clinical trials). Masitinib significantly inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication in human lung cells. Notably, masitinib completely inhibited 3CLpro activity. 3CLpro is the SARS-CoV-2 main protease, necessary for its viral replication cycle. X-ray crystallography revealed that masitinib directly binds to the active site of 3CLpro, thereby having a direct antiviral activity by blocking its enzymatic activity. Masitinib was also effective in blocking the replication of multiple picornaviruses (human pathogens that cause a range of diseases including meningitis, hepatitis, and poliomyelitis). Overall, masitinib was shown to have broad anti-coronavirus and anti-picornavirus activity. A Phase 2 study is on-going to evaluate masitinib in combination with isoquercetin for the treatment of COVID-19. This study (AB20001) is a randomized (1:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of masitinib combined with isoquercetin in hospitalized patients with moderate and severe COVID-19. The study will enroll 200 patients (age =18 without an upper age limit) at medical centers in France and other countries. The primary objective is to improve the clinical status of patients after 15 days of treatment.