"This collaboration represents an exciting opportunity for Nona Biosciences to leverage its fully human antibody H2L2 transgenic mice, together with the technology and expertise in the development of innovative therapeutics," said Jingsong Wang, MD, PhD, Chairman of Nona Biosciences. "We believe that our collaboration with Dr. Michael S. Diamond's team will lead to breakthroughs in the field of viral therapeutics and ultimately improve patients' lives."

Dr. Michael S. Diamond is a Professor of Medicine, Molecular Microbiology, Pathology & Immunology at Washington University School of Medicine. The Diamond laboratory is renowned for its research on molecular basis of disease of globally emerging RNA viruses and its focus on the interface between pathogenesis and host immunity. Researchers in the lab have already identified many key innate and adaptive immune system components that protect against multiple families of viruses, as well as the viral genes that counteract this response.

"By combining our knowledge and expertise in the biology of emerging pathogens, we believe we can make significant strides in developing treatments for these viruses that have thus far eluded effective therapies," said Dr. Michael S. Diamond.