Zentek Ltd. (ZTEK, Financial) has successfully completed the initial phase of its contract under the Innovative Solutions Canada Testing Stream, funded by the Government of Canada. The project, valued at approximately $1.1 million, aims to develop a countermeasure for highly pathogenic avian influenza A using Zentek's multivalent aptamer strategy.
After delivering a promising lead candidate for the virus, Zentek has entered the testing phase of the initiative. The contract, which began in November 2024, involves collaboration with McMaster University's Li Lab, focusing on developing both a prophylactic and therapeutic solution for avian influenza HPAI A. The strategy previously led to the successful development of a countermeasure for SARS-CoV-2, which proved effective against all tested variants of the virus.
Key tasks completed during development include selecting monomers with high binding affinity to the virus's hemagglutinin protein and constructing multimeric forms to enhance avidity. In vitro tests have shown that the lead candidate can effectively neutralize H5N1 and other influenza strains, matching the performance of a monoclonal antibody positive control.
The upcoming phase will involve delivering enough materials to Dr. Matthew Miller's team at McMaster University for in vivo testing. The focus will be on evaluating the countermeasure's performance against H1N1 and the current strain of H5N1 2.3.4.4b circulating globally.
