- Life sciences company eSense-Lab (ESE) has signed an agreement with the Israeli Ministry of Health (MOH) to conduct a joint research project
- The company will test its proprietary TRP-ENV compound against a human coronavirus strain, to assess its antiviral properties
- eSense-Lab will conduct the research at the Central Virology lab within the Chaim Sheba Medical Centre, Israel’s largest hospital
- Final results of the research project should be available by November 2020
- eSense-Lab closed in the grey for 1.8 cents per share
Life sciences company eSense-Lab (ESE) has signed an agreement with the Israeli Ministry of Health (MOH) to conduct a joint research project.
The MOH has approved the project, in which eSense will test its proprietary TRP-ENV compound against a human coronavirus strain. The strain, termed OC43, is one of seven known coronaviruses which infects human, which include SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2.
OC43 has an identical molecular structure to the COVID-19 strain, but is not as aggressively infectious. As such, it serves as an acceptable model for testing TRP-ENV’s antiviral properties against coronaviruses.
eSense’s TRP-ENV terpene combination was developed in order to provide extensive antiviral activity. This could hopefully include efficacy against SARS viruses, and other envelope viruses including herpes, HIV, hepatitis B, influenza, and more.
Further research into the antiviral qualities of terpenes could also help to reduce the ethanol content in sanitisers. Ethanol can be an irritant to the skin, prompting the need for sanitisers which contain less of it.
The results will also be relevant to the eSense’s previously announced projects with Wise Wine and SeaLaria.
eSense will conduct the testing at the Central Virology lab within the Chaim Sheba Medical Centre, Israel’s largest hospital. The testing will occur in stages.
Under the agreement, the company will test 16 formulations infused with TRP-EMV alone, and in combination with other active ingredients. The formulations will be assessed for their efficacy on a range of surfaces, and over various virus incubation periods.
The contract and trials are likely to cost eSense approximately $100,000 in direct costs. The final results of the research project trials should be available by November, 2020.
At market close, eSense-Lab was trading steady for 1.8 cents per share.