DRUGS designed to combat COVID-19 will be safety-tested by a Coventry University spin-out company.
InoCardia has been awarded £50,000 by the government to reduce the risk of new coronavirus drugs causing life-threatening effects on the heart.
Hospital studies show that COVID-19 weakens the heart – meaning InoCardia must ensure any new treatment does not do any further damage.
The company, which focuses on testing the safety of drugs on the heart, was one of 800 applicants out of over 8,000 chosen by the government to support the development of products and services which will help society or industry during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Professor Helen Maddock, CSO of InoCardia and Executive Director of the Centre for Sports, Exercise and Life Sciences at Coventry University said: “Returning to a normally functioning global society post COVID-19 will require effective drugs and vaccines, particularly if we are unable to develop long-term immunity to the virus.
“Our project will enable pharmaceutical companies to design new COVID-19 drugs that are ‘heart safe’ faster and with greater chance of success.”
She said it was important that new drugs were safe enough to be used at home as well as in hospital.
“They also need to be safe for people who do not know they have COVID-19 and are vulnerable to the virus,” she added, “or who may already have underlying heart conditions and are at increased risk.”
Dr Ian Campbell, executive chair of Innovate UK, said: “Businesses from all over the UK have answered our call rapidly to meet the challenges we face today and in the future through the power of innovation.
“The ideas we have seen can truly make a significant impact on society, improve the lives of individuals, especially those in vulnerable groups and enable businesses to prosper in challenging circumstances.”
