Halo Therapeutics

We Develop Pan Coronavirus Antivirals

There is no home therapeutic treatment for COVID-19 patients, and similarly no prophylactic treatment for at risk patients (elderly, disease preconditions, track and trace “proximity positive” individuals, family members of positive cases).
Our vision is to solve this urgent unmet medical need by providing safe pan coronavirus antivirals which can be applied by COVID-19 patients by themselves, at home

HALO'S PROPRIETARY FREE FATTY ACID FORMULA IS A PAN CORONAVIRUS ANTIVIRAL

We recently published in Science Magazine the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is driven to non-infectious, locked conformation by nanomolar concentrations of free fatty acid.

The pocket and antiviral mechanism we discovered are fully conserved in:

OUR PIPELINE & SCIENCE

Led by scientists with an elite level track record in drug discovery, we are advancing a pipeline of novel and proprietary pan coronavirus antiviral therapeutics by applying our expertise in structural biology, virology, and computational chemistry.

Pipeline Development Programs

Halo Antiviral Pipeline: Overview & Current Focus

INVESTMENT, LICENSING, AND PARTNERING

Please contact us for partnering, licensing, or investment opportunities in pan coronavirus antivirals and potential antiviral drugs for Covid-19.

Our Company

Halo Therapeutics develops pan-coronavirus antivirals. Founded in December 2020 based on ground-breaking discovery, our vision is to roll out a class of small molecule pan-coronavirus therapeutics targeting the central axis of disease pathology: lipid regulation.

Halo Executive Team

Dr Dan Fitzgerald CEO

Dr Dan Fitzgerald CEO

  • Biotech Entrepreneur
  • Company Building
  • IP, Deal making, licencing
Prof Imre Berger CSO

Prof Imre Berger CSO

  • Director Max Planck Bristol
  • Wellcome Trust Investigator
  • ERC Investigator
  • FMedSci
  • Serial Entrepreneur
Prof Christiane Schaffitzel  CTO

Prof Christiane Schaffitzel CTO

  • Wellcome Trust Investigator
  • Discovered the Pocket
  • Cryo-EM Specialist
Dr Peter Pack  NED

Dr Peter Pack NED

  • Serial Biotech CEO
  • Former Venture Capitalist
  • 29 years company building
  • Ex CEO Crescendo, Cambridge UK
  • Advises investors and biotechs
Dr. Daniel Fitzgerald

Dr. Daniel Fitzgerald

Co-Founder and CEO
  • Biotechnologist and Entrepreneur
  • Cofounded 3 startups
  • Dealmaking, company building, in/out licensing, IP
Prof. Christiane Schaffitzel

Prof. Christiane Schaffitzel

Co-Founder and CTO
  • Discovered Linoleic Acid Binding
  • Professor of Biochemistry
  • Cryo-EM Specialist
Charles Grimsdale

Charles Grimsdale

Non-Executive Director
  • Serial Entrepreneur
  • Super-Angel Investor
  • Startup Building
Prof. Imre Berger

Prof. Imre Berger

Co-Founder and CSO
  • Director, Max Planck Bristol Centre
  • Director, Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre
  • Wellcome Trust Investigator, ERC Investigator
  • Discovered Linoleic Acid COVID-19 interaction
Prof. Chris Jones

Prof. Chris Jones

Non-Executive Director
  • Former Global Head Astra Pharmaceutical Development
  • Led numerous drugs from bench to bedside
  • Developed Symbicort and Pulmicort in respiratory
Prof. Adam Finn MD PhD

Prof. Adam Finn MD PhD

  • Head clinician UK COVID-19 RECOVERY trial
  • Designing our Clinical Trials
  • Expert in viral transmission
  • COVID Key Opinion Leader
Dr. Catherine Hyams MBBS PhD

Dr. Catherine Hyams MBBS PhD

  • Respiratory clinical specialist
  • Extensive experience managing complex respiratory infection conditions.
Tony Fox MD PhD   CMO

Tony Fox MD PhD CMO

  • Pharmaceutical physician 30+ years experience.
  • Former Glaxo Inc and President of EBD Group.
Prof. Adam Finn

Prof. Adam Finn

MD PhD
  • Head clinician in UK wide RECOVERY trial ongoing for COVID-19
  • Designing our Clinical Trials
  • Expert in viral transmission New York Times Article by Adam
Dr. Catherine Hyams

Dr. Catherine Hyams

MBBS PhD
Respiratory clinical specialist with RECOVERY trial ongoing for COVID-19. Extensive experience managing complex respiratory infection conditions.
Dr. Tony Fox

Dr. Tony Fox

MD PhD

Dr. Fox is a pharmaceutical physician 30+ years experience. Former Glaxo Inc. and President of the entire EBD Group.

Tony is leading our regulatory affairs

Prof Chris Jones  NED

Prof Chris Jones NED

  • Former AstraZeneca Global Head Pharma Dev
  • Developed Symbicort
  • 30+ years in big pharma
Dr. Ameet Ambarkhane, Director of Product Development

Dr. Ameet Ambarkhane, Director of Product Development

  • Multilingual in drug discovery, development and production
  • Ex Novartis, MSD
Prof. Imre Berger

Prof. Imre Berger

Co-Founder and CSO
  • Director, Max Planck Bristol Centre
  • Director, Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre
  • Wellcome Trust Investigator, ERC Investigator
  • Discovered Linoleic Acid COVID-19 interaction
Prof. Christiane Schaffitzel

Prof. Christiane Schaffitzel

Co-Founder and CTO
  • Discovered Linoleic Acid Binding
  • Professor of Biochemistry
  • Cryo-EM Specialist
Dr. Barrett Rabinow

Dr. Barrett Rabinow

PhD
Former Head Chemistry R&D at Baxter and Baxter Distinguished Scientist, 30+ years expertise in product formulation and delivery
Betty Mishkin

Betty Mishkin

Principal Medical Writer/Pharmaceutical Research Consultant Former Baxter lead on the NanoEdge™ Drug Delivery Tech Platform
Tom Pavlina

Tom Pavlina

MSc (MIT)
Former Baxter Research Scientist, 30+ years experience with lipid formulation and delivery, preclinical and clinical

NEWS

What is known about new Covid variant XBB.1.5?

What is known about new Covid variant XBB.1.5?

haloadmin
On 6th January 2023

A new Covid sub-variant is causing some concern in the US, where it is spreading rapidly.

Some cases have also been recorded in the UK, so what do you need to know about XBB.1.5?

CDC reports a new strain of omicron taking over in the U.S.

CDC reports a new strain of omicron taking over in the U.S.

haloadmin
On 2nd January 2023

About 40% of confirmed U.S. Covid cases are caused by the XBB.1.5 strain, up from 20% a week ago.

Research in action: Halo’s pan-coronavirus antivirals explained.

Research in action: Halo’s pan-coronavirus antivirals explained.

haloadmin
On 14th December 2022

What was it like to keep research work going during the worst of the pandemic? And how close are we to a vaccine that works against all current and future coronavirus variants?

Conserved binding pocket is net positive for deadly coronavirus strains

Conserved binding pocket is net positive for deadly coronavirus strains

haloadmin
On 5th December 2022

Investigators at the University of Bristol and Biognos AB have identified a structural feature that distinguished the deadly coronavirus strains from harmless, common cold-causing variants. The findings, which were published in the Nov. 23, 2022

Scientists find tailor-made pocket feature shared by coronaviruses causing severe disease

Scientists find tailor-made pocket feature shared by coronaviruses causing severe disease

haloadmin
On 5th December 2022

Scientists have discovered that a tailor-made pocket within the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which is capable of binding itself to the human cell surface, is what results in some coronaviruses causing severe disease.

Halo scientists reveal Achilles’ heel of deadly coronaviruses from SARS-CoV to Omicron

Halo scientists reveal Achilles’ heel of deadly coronaviruses from SARS-CoV to Omicron

haloadmin
On 26th November 2022

The free fatty acid–binding pocket is a conserved hallmark in pathogenic β-coronavirus spike proteins from SARS-CoV to Omicron

New survey suggests reinfection worsens Long COVID

New survey suggests reinfection worsens Long COVID

haloadmin
On 14th November 2022

Survey indicates that getting reinfected worsens symptoms of Long COVID or triggers a recurrence of symptoms in people who have recovered.

COVID ‘variant soup’ is making winter surges hard to predict

COVID ‘variant soup’ is making winter surges hard to predict

haloadmin
On 4th November 2022

Descendants of Omicron are proliferating worldwide — and the same mutations are coming up again and again.
Some call it a swarm of variants — others refer to it as variant soup. Whatever it’s called, the current crop of immunity-dodging offshoots of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 is unprecedented in its diversity. This complexity makes it harder to predict coming waves of infection. It might even lead to a ‘double wave’ in some places, as first one variant and then another overtakes a population.

Halo Therapeutics selected finalist in OBN Awards 2022

Halo Therapeutics selected finalist in OBN Awards 2022

haloadmin
On 7th October 2022

The OBN Awards, now in their 14th year, are a highly regarded and sought-after awards programme for the Life Sciences industry, designed to celebrate innovation and outstanding achievement across all corners of the life sciences industry.

Global health solutions: Anti-virals innovation post-COVID

Global health solutions: Anti-virals innovation post-COVID

haloadmin
On 7th October 2022

As long as humans inhabit the earth, viruses will be part of life, and learning how to defend against novel coronaviruses will be vital for global health.

Oxford and Halo scientists reveal LA and sugar binding to SARS-CoV-2 spike at atomic resolution

Oxford and Halo scientists reveal LA and sugar binding to SARS-CoV-2 spike at atomic resolution

haloadmin
On 7th October 2022

The surface proteins found on
both pathogens and host cells mediate cell
entry (and exit) and influence disease progression and transmission. Both types of proteins can bear host-generated posttranslational

UK’s autumn Covid wave could be worse than the last as cases rise

UK’s autumn Covid wave could be worse than the last as cases rise

haloadmin
On 7th October 2022

There is a mixture of variants in circulation, and signs of vaccine fatigue in the population.
After two winters of Covid anguish, one would be forgiven for viewing the shortening of days with a sense of trepidation. It would not be entirely misplaced.

Rapidly escalating COVID-19 cases amid reduced virus surveillance forecasts a challenging autumn and winter in the WHO European Region

Rapidly escalating COVID-19 cases amid reduced virus surveillance forecasts a challenging autumn and winter in the WHO European Region

haloadmin
On 7th October 2022

New WHO/Europe strategy urges countries to urgently address gaps in pandemic monitoring and response to avoid preventable deaths and severe disruptions to health systems

Halo co-founder and CSO Prof Imre Berger elected to the Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences

Halo co-founder and CSO Prof Imre Berger elected to the Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences

haloadmin
On 7th October 2022

Imre Berger, Professor of Biochemistry and Chemistry and Director of Bristol’s Max Planck Centre for Minimal Biology has been elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences for his outstanding contributions to biomedical science and notable discoveries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Long Covid will be our economic downfall and continue to blight lives, expert warns

Long Covid will be our economic downfall and continue to blight lives, expert warns

haloadmin
On 11th April 2022

Experts fear condition will hit people’s ability to work and have costs for employers and government, Jane Dalton writes

Next COVID monoclonal antibody axed by FDA: Omicron 2 evades Sotrovimab.

Next COVID monoclonal antibody axed by FDA: Omicron 2 evades Sotrovimab.

haloadmin
On 26th March 2022

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is continually monitoring how authorized and approved treatments for COVID-19 are affected by changing variants

Covid resurgent across UK with infections in over-70s at record high

Covid resurgent across UK with infections in over-70s at record high

haloadmin
On 21st March 2022

A resurgence of Covid cases is under way across the UK, with infections in the over-70s at a record high and school leaders fearing that preparations

Monoclonal antibody COVID treatment induces drug-resistant SARS-CoV-2 mutants

Monoclonal antibody COVID treatment induces drug-resistant SARS-CoV-2 mutants

haloadmin
On 14th March 2022

The latest coronavirus news updated every day including coronavirus cases, the latest news, features and interviews

Even mild COVID can cause the brain to shrink and damage memory centre

Even mild COVID can cause the brain to shrink and damage memory centre

haloadmin
On 9th March 2022

COVID-19 can cause the brain to shrink and damage areas linked to memory and smell, says a new study by Oxford University that was published in the Nature journal

Halo scientists unveil how SARS-CoV-2 plays ultimate game of ‘hide and seek’ with immune system.

Halo scientists unveil how SARS-CoV-2 plays ultimate game of ‘hide and seek’ with immune system.

haloadmin
On 2nd March 2022

People suffering from COVID-19 could have several different SARS-CoV-2 variants hidden away from the immune system in different parts of the body, finds new research published in Nature Communications by an international research team. The study’s authors say that this may make complete clearance of the virus from the body of an infected person, by their own antibodies, or by therapeutic antibody treatments, much more difficult.

International Women in Science Day: Halo CTO Professor Christiane Schaffitzel

International Women in Science Day: Halo CTO Professor Christiane Schaffitzel

haloadmin
On 14th February 2022

Halo CTO Professor Christiane Schaffitzel discovered the SARS-CoV-2 Achilles’ heel targeted by Halo’s safe, self-administered antiviral treatments and prophylactics

Next Covid strain could kill many more, warn scientists ahead of England restrictions ending

Next Covid strain could kill many more, warn scientists ahead of England restrictions ending

haloadmin
On 14th February 2022

A future variant of Covid-19 could be much more dangerous and cause far higher numbers of deaths and cases of serious illness than Omicron, leading UK scientists have warned.

Proportion of Covid-19 deaths in over-80s highest for more than a year

Proportion of Covid-19 deaths in over-80s highest for more than a year

haloadmin
On 11th February 2022

However, the number of deaths remains well below levels in previous waves of the virus.

Nature Communications: Halo scientists publish essential new insights into how multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants evolve in patients.

Nature Communications: Halo scientists publish essential new insights into how multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants evolve in patients.

haloadmin
On 7th February 2022

As the global burden of SARS-CoV-2 infections escalates, so does the evolution of viral variants with increased transmissibility and pathology. In addition to this entrenched diversity, RNA viruses can also display genetic diversity within single infected hosts with co-existing viral variants evolving differently in distinct cell types.

SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein binds to heart’s vascular cells potentially contributing to severe microvascular damage

SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein binds to heart’s vascular cells potentially contributing to severe microvascular damage

haloadmin
On 3rd February 2022

A new study has shown how SARS-CoV-2 may contribute to severe microvascular damage seen in severely-ill COVID-19 patients by transforming human heart vascular cells into inflammatory cells, without infecting them.

Nature Medicine: Omicron Escapes Monoclonal Treatments

Nature Medicine: Omicron Escapes Monoclonal Treatments

haloadmin
On 21st January 2022

The emergence of the highly transmissible B.1.1.529 Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is concerning for antibody countermeasure efficacy because of the number of mutations in the spike protein.

Halo Therapeutics Ltd and Oracle: Partnership against COVID

Halo Therapeutics Ltd and Oracle: Partnership against COVID

haloadmin
On 19th January 2022

Even during the strange time warp that has been the COVID-19 pandemic, opening a new calendar to a clean page headed “January” stirs the hopeful possibility of fresh starts and exciting changes.

Nurses, doctors sick. Ambulances, blood in short supply. Omicron hits L.A. healthcare hard

Nurses, doctors sick. Ambulances, blood in short supply. Omicron hits L.A. healthcare hard

haloadmin
On 14th January 2022

Registered nurse Giyun Kim, left, works with patient Marcus Miller in the COVID unit at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Torrance on Jan. 11.(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

PREV NEXT

KEY PUBLICATIONS

Christine Toelzer, Kapil Gupta, Sathish K.N. Yadav, Lorna Hodgson, Maia Kavanagh Williamson, Dora Buzas, Ufuk Borucu, Kyle Powers, Richard Stenner, Kate Vasileiou, Frederic Garzoni, Daniel Fitzgerald, Christine Payré, Gérard Lambeau, Andrew D. Davidson, Paul Verkade, Martin Frank, Imre Berger, Christiane Schaffitzel
Charles J Buchanan, Ben Gaunt, Peter J Harrison, Yun Yang, Jiwei Liu, Aziz Khan, Andrew M Giltrap, Audrey Le Bas, Philip N Ward, Kapil Gupta, Maud Dumoux, Tiong Kit Tan, Lisa Schimaski, Sergio Daga, Nicola Picchiotti, Margherita Baldassarri, Elisa Benetti, Chiara Fallerini, Francesca Fava, Annarita Giliberti, Panagiotis I Koukos, Matthew J Davy, Abirami Lakshminarayanan, Xiaochao Xue, Georgios Papadakis, Lachlan P Deimel, Virgínia Casablancas-Antràs, Timothy D W Claridge, Alexandre M J J Bonvin, Quentin J Sattentau, Simone Furini, Marco Gori, Jiandong Huo, Raymond J Owens, Christiane Schaffitzel, Imre Berger, Alessandra Renieri, GEN-COVID Multicenter Study; James H Naismith, Andrew J Baldwin, Benjamin G Davis

Oskar Staufer, Kapil Gupta, Jochen Estebano Hernandez Bücher, Fabian Kohler, Christian Sigl, Gunjita Singh, Kate Vasileiou, Ana Yagüe Relimpio, Meline Macher, Sebastian Fabritz, Hendrik Dietz, Elisabetta Ada Cavalcanti Adam, Christiane Schaffitzel, Alessia Ruggieri, Ilia Platzman, Imre Berger & Joachim P. Spatz

Kapil Gupta, Christine Toelzer, Maia Kavanagh Williamson, Deborah K. Shoemark, A. Sofia F. Oliveira, David A. Matthews, Abdulaziz Almuqrin, Oskar Staufer, Sathish K. N. Yadav, Ufuk Borucu, Frederic Garzoni, Daniel Fitzgerald, Joachim Spatz, Adrian J. Mulholland, Andrew D. Davidson, Christiane Schaffitzel & Imre Berger
A Sofia F Oliveira A, Deborah K Shoemark, Amaurys Avila Ibarra, Andrew D Davidson, Imre Berger, Christiane Schaffitzel & Andrew J Mulholland
Christine Toelzer, Kapil Gupta, Sathish K. N. Yadav, Ufuk Borucu, Andrew D. Davidson, Maia Kavanagh Williamson, Deborah K. Shoemark, Frederic Garzoni, Oskar Staufer, Rachel Milligan, Julien Capin, Adrian J. Mulholland, Joachim Spatz, Daniel Fitzgerald, Imre Berger, Christiane Schaffitzel

Contact Us

For more information about Halo Therapeutics, please Contact Us and our pipeline development programs for pan coronavirus antiviral cure, get in touch with us.

Halo Therapeutics