- Zentek (NASDAQ:ZTEK) has completed the first phase of a ~$1.1 million contract to develop a countermeasure for avian influenza H5N1.
- The initial lead candidate has shown promising results, matching monoclonal antibody performance in in vitro tests.
- The project now advances to in vivo testing in collaboration with McMaster University's Li Lab and Canadian government partners.
Zentek Ltd. (NASDAQ:ZTEK) has successfully completed the first phase of an Innovative Solutions Canada contract, valued at approximately $1.1 million, aimed at developing a viable countermeasure against the highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1). This achievement marks a significant milestone in Zentek's ongoing efforts to address emerging global health threats.
The initiative, which began in November 2024, employs a multivalent aptamer technology—a strategic approach previously effective against all tested variants of SARS-CoV-2. Conducted in collaboration with McMaster University's Li Lab, the initial phase has resulted in a lead candidate that matched the performance of a monoclonal antibody positive control during recent in vitro neutralization experiments. This is a promising indicator of the potential efficacy of the countermeasure.
The program, supported by key Canadian government partners including Health and Emergency Preparedness Canada (HERC) and Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), will now progress into in vivo testing. This phase is crucial to evaluate the countermeasure's effectiveness against not only the H5N1 2.3.4.4b clade but also the H1N1 virus in living organisms.
Zentek's development efforts are timely, given the widespread transmission of the H5N1 virus, which has recently affected over 1,000 dairy cattle herds across 17 U.S. states and demonstrated cross-species infection potential. The successful execution of this phase reinforces Zentek's proficiency in project management and strategic development, highlighting the multivalent aptamer platform's versatility in addressing significant viral threats.
