by Mark Derewicz, staff reports — February 9, 2021 .
CHAPEL HILL – An experimental drug created at a subsidiary of Emory University has shown potential to both prevent and treat COVID-19, according to researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill.
The drug, known as EIDD-2801, is being developed by Miami-based Ridgeback Biotherapeutics. Ridgeback is partnered with drug giant Merck in the development process. The drug was invented at Drug Innovations at Emory, a not-for-profit biotechnology company wholly owned by Emory University, according to Ridgeback.
Nature, scientists at the UNC School of Medicine and UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health tested how the orally administered experimental drug halts SARS-CoV-2 replication and prevents infection of human cells in a new in vivo [in a living organism] model containing human lung tissue.