In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists around the world have joined together in applying their skills and technologies to fight this global threat. Some of the most promising technologies to fight the coronavirus are based on oligonucleotide therapeutics. In an effort to promote public awareness of these drugs and how they could stop SARS-CoV-2, the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society (OTS) has released two informational videos, one for the general public and one for scientists. Many of our members, who are on the forefront of this work, contributed to these videos which are hosted by past OTS president Dr. Art Krieg. Please scroll down to see both videos.
Oligonucleotide Therapeutics: New Drugs That Could Stop SARS-CoV-2
This webinar is suggested for nonscientists who are not familiar with oligonucleotides, but who are interested in learning how new biotechnologies can help to stop this pandemic. Starting with the biology basics, Dr. Art Krieg, Past President of the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society, explains what oligonucleotide therapeutics are, and some of the life-saving drugs that have been developed. The focus then is on the application of these technologies to prevent or treat Covid-19, including the vaccines that are now in the news, and explaining the way they work based on general scientific principles that should be familiar to most people. A key point made is the speed with which the new generations of oligonucleotide drugs (including mRNA and DNA vaccines) can be developed against a novel pandemic such as this. OTS members may find this webinar helpful for their family members who don’t understand what they are doing and why it is important!
Efforts by the OTS Community to Combat SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19
OTS members are on the forefront of efforts around the world to provide critical diagnostics and to develop therapeutics that can attack SARS-CoV-2 in cells, or even prevent infection. This webinar is a summary of some of the work that OTS members shared with our community through our recent questionnaire to our members. The approaches reviewed span a wide range of oligonucleotide platforms, including diagnostics, siRNA, antisense, aptamers, activating RNA, vaccines (including protein +CpG oligo, mRNA, DNA, and viral vector approaches), and innate immune activation by CpG DNA to prevent infection. A number of challenges that need to be addressed in order for the approaches to succeed also are considered. Learn about how the technologies that our community has developed can stop the pandemic!