Launch of NoVir Project: Toward Better Protection Against Future Pandemics

Joining the international NoVir consortium alongside project coordinator Ethris GmbH, as well as the Technical University of Munich and Aarhus University, EURICE expands its portfolio of projects seeking to advance future mRNA-based therapies. Funded through the European Union’s EU4Health Programme with nearly €10 million over the next two years, NoVir aims to enhance public health resilience in future pandemics.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the limitations of existing measures in addressing widespread viral outbreaks. The absence of a rapid-response, broad-spectrum antiviral—capable of targeting multiple viruses—contributed to significant health and societal impacts.

The €10 million grant from EU4Health, EU’s largest health programme committed to a healthier European Union, will support several preclinical and clinical studies to evaluate the potential of ETH47, a first-in-class mRNA-based antiviral therapy. “The EU4Health grant is a significant validation of ETH47’s pioneering approach and its potential to offer a paradigm shift in the treatment and prevention of respiratory and broader systemic infections,” said Dr. Carsten Rudolph, CEO of Ethris and coordinator of the NoVir project.

“ETH47’s ability to act at virus entry sites, combined with its room-temperature stability and potential synergy with existing antivirals, positions it as a differentiated and scalable solution for pandemic preparedness. The funding enables us to advance ETH47’s clinical development and explore its wider applications beyond respiratory conditions, to address additional critical unmet needs in high-risk populations.”

The NoVir project will run from May 1, 2025, to April 30, 2027 and will include the following projects:

• A clinical rhinovirus challenge study in asthmatic and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, populations at high risk for severe viral infections.
• A clinical study in healthy volunteers infected with influenza to assess ETH47’s antiviral efficacy.
• Preclinical research exploring ETH47’s protective effects against paramyxoviruses, orthomyxoviruses, ooronaviridae, and ounyaviruses, including those responsible for viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs).
• Investigation into ETH47’s impact on intravaginal, ocular, and systemic infections, through multiple routes of administration, expanding its potential use beyond respiratory illnesses.
• Evaluation of ETH47’s ability to enhance the efficacy of existing antiviral treatments through synergistic effects.

This unique project covering clinical trials driven by Ethris and a variety of preclinical models conducted at the Technical University of Munich and at Aarhus University could make ETH47 a major new tool for protecting many people across Europe during future pandemics.

The EU4Health programme was established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and is a European Union initiative aimed at strengthening Europe’s healthcare systems and improving preparedness to future health crises. With a budget of €4.4 billion, it focuses on enhancing health promotion, disease prevention, crisis response, and healthcare access. The programme supports projects addressing long-term health challenges and contributes to creating a healthier European Union.