A new Walloon spin-off (UNamur / UCLouvain / WEL Research Institute) is developing a nasal spray to prevent viral respiratory infections

The innovation at the heart of Intercept Bio is based on a proprietary molecule, 9-Ac-SAP, protected by several families of international patents jointly held by the two universities. This molecule, formulated as a nasal spray, is designed to intercept viruses before they can attach to human cells. Specifically, it acts as a molecular “decoy”: instead of attaching to the surface of the body’s cells, the virus first encounters this molecule, which disrupts its adhesion and thus limits its ability to initiate infection.

Professor Stéphane Vincent is a member of the Bio-Organic Chemistry Laboratory (CBO) and the NISM and NARILIS institutes at UNamur.

Professor David Alsteens of the NanoBioPhysics Lab and a member of the Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology at UCLouvain and the WEL Research Institute.

This approach is particularly innovative because it does not target a single virus or a single strain. Preclinical studies conducted at UNamur and UCLouvain have demonstrated antiviral activity against several major respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, influenza viruses, and respiratory syncytial virus. By targeting a very early and common stage of the infection process—namely, the virus’s attachment to the host cell—the technology paves the way for a preventive strategy that complements vaccines, existing antiviral treatments, and conventional protective measures.

The first product developed by Intercept Bio comes in the form of a nasal spray. This method of administration follows a simple logic: to act locally, where many respiratory viruses begin their progression in the body. Easy to use, non-invasive, and designed for preventive use, this spray could be a particularly relevant solution for people at highest risk of complications, especially patients with chronic respiratory conditions. 

“This spray could be an alternative to the vaccine for immunocompromised individuals. It would help prevent respiratory illnesses, the flu, or other infections by applying it before entering confined spaces, such as public transportation. It could also be used by an infected person to limit the risk of transmitting the virus to those around them,” explains David Alsteens of UCLouvain’s WEL Research Institute. 

By reducing the risk of infection or exacerbation of severe respiratory illnesses, a preventive solution like this spray could help limit complications, hospitalizations, and pressure on the healthcare system.

In 2020, as soon as the coronavirus pandemic began, David Alsteens (UCLouvain, WEL Research Institute) used his state-of-the-art atomic force microscopy platform—unique in Belgium for its ability to study interactions between pathogens and cells—to investigate how COVID-19 attaches to our cells. Very quickly, the UCLouvain-WEL Research Institute team discovered the importance of certain sialic acids on the surface of our cells in allowing the virus to attach to them. Sialic acids, which are sugar residues, act like tiny locks to which the virus binds via its surface proteins before entering the host cell. 

In an effort to block this interaction—and thus prevent the virus from infecting cells— David Alsteens turned to Professor Stéphane Vincent of the Bio-Organic Chemistry Laboratory at UNamur, who specializes in organic chemistry, glycosciences, biocatalysis, and mechanistic enzymology. His team designs and synthesizes complex molecules capable of interacting with biological targets, particularly in contexts related to infections. Vincent then produced a molecule flanked by sialic acids—the famous decoy molecule—which saturates the virus and prevents it from binding to its host cells. Subsequent tests on mice proved effective in 80% of cases. Within the Intercept Bio framework, this contribution was instrumental in designing, producing, and optimizing the molecules that form the basis of the technology platform.

Intercept Bio also illustrates the power of inter-university collaboration. The project arose from the complementary nature of two high-level scientific areas of expertise: on the one hand, UNamur’s ability to design and synthesize innovative molecules inspired by glycoscience; and, on the other hand, the expertise of UCLouvain-WEL Research Institute in observing, measuring, and understanding, at the nanoscale, the interactions between viruses, molecules, and cells. This collaboration has made it possible to move from a scientific intuition to a protected technology, validated in preclinical trials and now moving toward industrial development.

The creation of Intercept Bio is part of a commercialization initiative jointly led by UNamur and UCLouvain, with support from the WEL Research Institute, UNamur Venture, and Sopartec—a member of Louvain-Transfer, UCLouvain’s research commercialization organization. These organizations have supported the project’s development, structuring, initial funding, and governance, working alongside the founding researchers and the management team, thereby enabling the transition from basic research to a concrete application for society. Serge Pampfer, a seasoned figure in the Belgian biotech ecosystem, is leading the new organization as CEO.

The research and funding that made the development of this solution possible, as well as the filing of the related patents, were supported by several funding initiatives and programs: the two ERC grants, support from the WEL Research Institute and the Louvain Foundation, obtained by David Alsteens of UCLouvain; as well as the EOS (interuniversity) program, the FNRS, and the Marie Curie ITN network, which funded a Ph.D. position in Stéphane Vincent’s team. The ITN, funded under the FP7 Marie Curie Doctoral Network program, made it possible to establish the initial methodology developed for Ebola, which contributed to the scientific advances that led to this technology. The company’s mission will be to continue the preclinical and clinical development phases, secure the necessary funding for the upcoming regulatory phases, and ultimately prepare for the market launch of innovative solutions designed to prevent viral respiratory infections. Beyond this first product, Intercept Bio aims to gradually develop a portfolio of products based on the same technological platform.