Boreal forests are a treasure trove for defeating also coronavirus

Business Finland granted a Research-to-Business funding for the Natura antivirals joint project between Ģֱ and Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke). The project prepares the commercialization of research results and conducts proof-of-concept research that supports commercialization. The goal is to create a path to new business. The total budget for the project is approximately EUR 660,000.
Researchers have found natural bioactive agents that act as strong antivirals against human viruses.
Published
22.12.2020

Ģֱ and Natural resources Institute Finland (Luke) have together found natural bioactive agents that act as strong antivirals against human viruses. The efficacy was confirmed with the stable enteroviruses, one of the most prevalent viruses infecting humans, and with coronaviruses, also with the SARS CoV-2 causing the present pandemics.

These virus groups together cause a huge amount of acute and chronic diseases, leading to high economic costs, and SARS CoV-2 also causing high mortality.

Presently, there are no safe, non-toxic means to lower the virus load among s, from surfaces and hands. Natural antivirals project combines expertise from both natural resources, microbiology, virology, IPR and commercialization, and from companies that represent disinfectants, natural products, pharma industry and daily consumer goods.

The idea to look for bioactive agents from the nature to combat viral infections started already eight years ago when Varpu Marjomäki and Riikka Linnakoski met each other in South Africa in their working trips.

“We were very excited to brainstorm cooperation between different fields of research”, says Project Manager Riikka Linnakoski from Luke. Cooperation has already led to invention and patent applications.

“These molecules from the forest draft destroy disease-causing viruses efficiently and safely", says Project Manager Varpu Marjomäki from JYU.

Both cosmetics and disinfectants industries nowadays value both safety and the natural origins. At present, there are no products available that are safe, efficient, from the natural origins and which would have proven efficacy against viruses. Raw materials from the nature are an important selling point abroad, especially in Asia, where consumers value purity and the nature in Nordic countries.

The project uses the side streams of forest industry, which is part of the idea in “Bio and Circular Finland” program at Business Finland. BF wants to promote export and innovations exploiting bio and circular solutions. In the project, top specialists in two organizations are combined with the aim to commercialize the antiviral innovation to a point where a start-up or presently available companies can take the lead.

More information:
Professor Varpu Marjomäki, tel. +358 40 5634422, varpu.s.marjomaki@jyu.fi
Senior Scientist Riikka Linnakoski, tel. +358 29 532 2289, riikka.linnakoski@luke.fi