Altasciences Chosen by Virpax to Support the Development of a New Drug to Prevent Spread of Flu-like Viruses
Altasciences is pleased to have been chosen by Virpax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRPX) (“Virpax”), a company specializing in developing non-addictive products for pain management, PTSD, central nervous system (CNS) disorders, and viral barrier indications, to conduct preclinical studies in support of their development of quaternary ammonium palmitoyl glycol chitosan (GCPQ, under the trade name of AnQlar™). AnQlar is a nanoparticle intended to help prevent the spread of negatively charged viruses such as COVID-19 and influenza via intranasal spray, and has shown to inhibit the ability of the virus to replicate at non-toxic concentrations.
In development since 2022, the project has so far seen the completion of safety assessment utilizing intranasal administration at Altasciences’ preclinical site in Columbia, MO. A cardiovascular study was also completed at Altasciences’ preclinical facility in Scranton, PA.
Bioanalytical sample analysis for the GLP studies is currently ongoing. “We are very pleased to be working with Virpax again and are satisfied with the trajectory our studies have taken. The final step for this program will be a bioanalytical sample analysis. Once samples are validated, this will conclude the IND package,” said Kyle Klepner, Senior Scientist, Study Director, Safety Assessment, Altasciences.
Steve Mason, Co-Chief Operating Officer, Altasciences, added: “The creation of AnQlar as a treatment, if successful, could be a huge leap forward in preventing the spread of influenza and similar viruses. We look forward to further collaboration with Virpax in the near-future.”
Dr. Sheila Mathias PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, Virpax, also said of the project: “Our work with Altasciences over the last year has been both exceedingly productive and rewarding demonstrating tangible results, and the nonclinical support provided has been vital in ensuring the progress of this project. ”
About Altasciences
Altasciences is an integrated drug development solution company offering pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies a proven, flexible approach to preclinical and clinical pharmacology studies, including formulation, manufacturing, and analytical services. For over 25 years, Altasciences has been partnering with sponsors to help support educated, faster, and more complete early drug development decisions. Altasciences’ integrated, full-service solutions include preclinical safety testing, clinical pharmacology and proof of concept, bioanalysis, program management, medical writing, biostatistics, clinical monitoring, and data management, all customizable to specific sponsor requirements. Altasciences helps sponsors get better drugs to the people who need them, faster. To learn more about Altasciences, visit altasciences.com.
About Virpax
Virpax is developing branded, non-addictive pain management products candidates using its proprietary technologies to optimize and target drug delivery. Virpax is initially seeking FDA approval for two prescription drug candidates that employ two different patented drug delivery platforms. Probudur™, a single injection liposomal bupivacaine formulation being developed to manage post-operative pain, and Envelta™, an intranasal molecular envelope enkephalin formulation being developed to manage acute and chronic pain, including pain associated with cancer.
Virpax is also using its intranasal molecular envelope technology (MET) to develop two other product candidates. PES200, is a product candidate being developed to manage PTSD, and NobrXiol™, a product candidate being developed for the nasal delivery of a pharmaceutical-grade cannabidiol (CBD), for the management of rare pediatric epilepsy.
Having recently acquired global rights to NobrXiol, Virpax has competitive cooperative research and development agreements (CRADAs) for all three of its prescription drug candidates, two with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and one with the Department of Defense (DOD). Virpax is currently seeking approval of two nonprescription product candidates: AnQlar, which is being developed to inhibit viral replication caused by influenza or SARS-CoV-2, and Epoladerm™, a topical diclofenac spray film formulation being developed to manage pain associated with osteoarthritis.
For more information, please visit virpaxpharma.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230921062012/en/
Contact information
Julie-Ann Cabana
Altasciences
+1 514 601-9763
jcabana@altasciences.com
Virpax Media:
Robert Cavosi
RooneyPartners
rcavosi@rooneypartners.com
(646) 638-9891
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
LabelVie Advances AI-Driven Grocery Retail Transformation Through Long-Standing Collaboration with SymphonyAI9.12.2025 11:00:00 EET | Press release
For more than two decades, LabelVie Group has relied on SymphonyAI, a global leader in Vertical AI product platforms, to power its grocery retail transformation. Now, that partnership is entering a new phase — one defined by connected intelligence, predictive precision, and measurable impact across LabelVie’s 270-plus stores in Morocco and Ivory Coast. As one of North Africa’s largest and fastest-growing grocery retail and wholesale operators, LabelVie is advancing its digital modernization through SymphonyAI’s end-to-end retail solutions, which support greater visibility, accuracy, and operational coordination across its growing network. The continued collaboration reinforces a long-term commitment to improving supply-chain processes and store operations as LabelVie expands into new markets and grocery retail formats. “SymphonyAI has been a trusted technology partner for more than two decades,” said Naoual Benamar, General Manager, LabelVie. “Their deep retail expertise and proven AI
INNIO wins prestigious German Sustainability Award 20269.12.2025 10:07:00 EET | Press release
INNIO Group has been awarded the German Sustainability Award for Companies 2026. At the 18th annual ceremony in Düsseldorf, INNIO was named winner in the “Engines and Turbines” category within the “Machines and Installations” sector. Recognized as one of Europe’s most respected distinctions for corporate responsibility, the German Sustainability Award reflects the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 and thus on the key areas of transformation such as climate, biodiversity, resources, supply chain, and society. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251205520809/en/ INNIO wins prestigious German Sustainability Award 2026 (c) Frank Fendler “This award is a tremendous recognition for our entire team and validates our 360-degree approach to sustainable innovation throughout the value chain,” said Marcin Kawa, VP Sustainability at INNIO Group. “We are committed to actively shaping the energy transition and delivering solutions th
EURONICS and NIQ Forge Strategic Collaboration to Elevate Retail Pricing Intelligence9.12.2025 10:00:00 EET | Press release
NIQ (NYSE: NIQ), a leading consumer intelligence company combined with GfK in 2023, has been selected by EURONICS, a leading global shopping cooperative in the Technical Consumer Goods (TCG) sector, to provide comprehensive Online Price Monitoring. NIQ's Online Price Monitoring provides insights into pricing dynamics by tracking item-level pricing across a defined data set. The system captures product information, matches items accurately, and ensures quality through advanced automated processes combined with human oversight and detailed checks. NIQ offers a range of retail pricing solutions, including pricing intelligence tools and the Consumer Price Lab, empowering businesses to make informed decisions and optimize their pricing strategies. This collaboration focuses on providing EURONICS with comprehensive pricing insights to support informed decision-making. NIQ delivers accurate and transparent data to help EURONICS understand market dynamics and plan effectively. "Through our col
SonicEdge and Earfab Partner to Shape the Future of Personalized Audio and Hearing Wellness9.12.2025 10:00:00 EET | Press release
SonicEdge, a pioneer in micro-acoustic innovation, today announced a strategic partnership with Earfab, the innovator of custom-fit hearing technology, to co-develop a new generation of personalized audio solutions that unite comfort, precision, and hearing safety. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251209472421/en/ Credit: SonicEdge By combining SonicEdge’s high-performance MEMS speaker-in-chip technology with Earfab’s custom-fit eartips – crafted using its proprietary earfabSCAN 3D smartphone scanning platform – the collaboration delivers a first-of-its-kind experience that redefines in-ear performance. The joint solution provides a perfect acoustic seal for enhanced sound fidelity, improved active noise cancellation, and long-term listening comfort – without compromising hearing health. “At SonicEdge, we believe that better sound should also mean better well-being,” said Moti Margalit, CEO of SonicEdge. “By in
Outpost24 Acquires Infinipoint to Power Its Entry into the Zero Trust Workforce Access Market9.12.2025 09:00:00 EET | Press release
Outpost24, a leader in exposure management and identity security, today announced the acquisition of Infinipoint, a specialist in device identity, posture validation, and secure workforce access. The acquisition marks Outpost24’s entry into the Zero Trust Workforce Access market and enhances its identity security division, Specops, by laying the foundation for a unified approach that evaluates both the user and the device before access is granted. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251208750630/en/ Ido Erlichman, Chief Executive Officer of Outpost24. As organizations advance their Zero Trust strategies, authentication alone is no longer enough. MFA and SSO confirm who the user is, but they do not validate the security of the device being used. In hybrid environments where employees, contractors, and partners rely on a mix of corporate and unmanaged devices, this gap has become a significant source of risk. Ensuri
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom