Improving our understanding of viruses to help develop new medicines

Based on research at University College London, Arrow Therapeutics has developed an array of potential candidates for novel anti-viral drugs. Basic Research by Professor Ian Charles into molecular pathogenicity led to the creation of a novel technology termed Transposon-mediated Differential Hybridisation (TMDH), which allows researchers to analyse the genes of a target organism.

Arrow therapeutics was purchased by Astra Zeneca in 2007 for around $150m in cash, generating large financial returns for the researchers and the university. The products being developed by the company work to combat important pathogens such as Hepatitis C and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV): they could therefore have enormous impacts on healthcare, and potentially save many lives.

Related case studies

University of Exeter – using AI to assess climate risk

The Joint Centre for Excellence in Environmental Intelligence (JCEEI) utilises AI to address climate and biodiversity change by interrogating multiple sources of data. It is working with a city council on how to make buildings safe during heatwaves, and collaborating with The Alan Turing Institute, energy futures lab at Imperial College London and the Universities of Edinburgh and Warwick on decision-making approaches for energy security and net zero.

Read more >

Opening a plant-based café at King’s

King's College London brings plant-based food to Bush House

Read more >