IRBM Announces Breakthrough in Zika Virus Drug Discovery | Potential Treatment for Flaviviruses

ROME, February 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — IRBM, a company focused on early drug discovery, has announced a significant scientific advancement: the identification of a novel and potent allosteric inhibitor targeting the Zika virus (ZIKV) protease (NS2B-NS3). The findings, published in Nature Communications (doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-68943-x), demonstrate the molecule’s effectiveness in preclinical models and represent a promising new approach to combatting ZIKV infections. Zika virus, spread by mosquitoes, poses a serious public health concern due to its potential to cause severe neurological complications, making the search for effective treatments critical.

Researchers at IRBM identified a small molecule that binds to a previously uncharacterized allosteric site on the NS2B-NS3 protease, a key enzyme essential for viral replication. The inhibitor effectively suppressed protease activity in both biochemical and cellular assays and exhibited significant antiviral activity in animal models. The molecule demonstrated a favorable safety and pharmacokinetic profile, supporting its potential for clinical development. Notably, this mechanism could potentially extend to other flaviviruses, including dengue, yellow fever, and West Nile virus, suggesting broader therapeutic potential.

The discovery was made possible by IRBM’s integrated approach, combining phenotypic high-content screening, computational modeling, mechanistic enzymology, iterative medicinal chemistry, and ADME profiling. This allowed the team to rapidly progress from identifying initial hits to selecting preclinical candidates.

“This discovery is a major milestone in the development of antiviral drugs,” said Carlo Toniatti, MD, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at IRBM. “By leveraging state-of-the-art medicinal chemistry and integrated screening technologies, our team has developed a novel ZIKV protease inhibitor with compelling preclinical activity.”

The achievement, funded by the Lazio Region, is the result of a collaborative initiative led by CNCCS and opens a promising path toward targeted antiviral therapies that could address a critical gap in global healthcare. It also underscores the shared commitment of CNCCS and IRBM to combatting rare and neglected diseases through innovative science.

“Innovation in drug discovery never happens alone. At IRBM, we aim to bridge the gap between academic discoveries and the clinic, and the success of this project demonstrates the impact that effective public-private partnerships can have on the development of new therapies,” added Matteo Liguori, CEO and Founder of IRBM.

Über IRBM IRBM is a leading research organization specializing in early drug discovery. With decades of experience and a proven track record of developing innovative preclinical candidates, IRBM is known for its rigorous, multidisciplinary approach to designing and executing complex experiments for the most challenging problems in drug discovery. IRBM fosters programs across a broad range of modalities and therapeutic areas, including antiviral agents, oncology, neuroscience, rare diseases, and beyond.

Über das CNCCS The CNCCS is a public-private consortium of IRBM, CNR, ISS, and the University of La Sapienza, functioning as a lead factory for drug discovery programs by connecting a chemical compound depot with a high-throughput screening (HTS) platform. Its mission is to bridge academic research and pharmaceutical development, with a focus on addressing rare, neglected, and poverty-related diseases.

Website: www.irbm.com

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