THE ISRAELI COMPANY REVOLUTIONIZING ANTIVIRAL TREATMENT

The idea behind Viritis took shape in 2020, the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Amit Turman, a biotech engineer and entrepreneur with a decade of experience leading biotech innovation in northern Israel, imagined a different kind of antiviral drug, one that works from inside infected cells rather relying on external mechanisms like triggering the immune system to detect viral surface proteins. He teamed up with Aharon Wistouch, a former Finance Ministry official and expert in capital markets, and they began their research journey.

The turning point came two years later, when Dr. Amit Philosoph, a molecular virologist and bioinformatician who had established molecular-genetic labs across academia and industry, joined the team. With her arrival came a significant scientific breakthrough: a novel AI-driven method for designing antiviral drugs that not only enter infected cells and destroy viruses they harbor, but also rapidly self-degrade, significantly reducing toxicity and risk.
Turman is CEO of Viritis, Wistouch is chairman and Dr. Philosoph is CTO. "We knew that the existing approach to fighting viruses was inadequate," says Turman. "Viruses mutate constantly, outpacing the treatments and vaccines developed to fight them. It was clear we needed a better strategy."

Viritis took a different path from conventional vaccine-based antiviral strategies that target viruses outside the cell. "We found a different solution," says Dr. Philosoph. "We use a unique molecule that lies in wait inside the infected cell. When the virus enters, our molecule neutralizes it before it can replicate, dramatically reducing the viral load and preventing the illness from developing."
The Viritis team created this unique molecule by integrating two well-established components from scientific literature to create a patented, next-generation antisense therapy — a technique that uses complementary DNA or RNA strands to target specific genetic sequences. Traditional antisense drugs can be unstable and damage healthy cells, but the Viritis molecule contains both a stabilizing component and a built-in targeting system that ensures it attacks only viral material and leaves healthy cells unharmed.

The Role of AI: Predicting and Preventing Viral Escape
AI plays a vital role in ensuring that this treatment remains effective over time, even as viruses mutate. "Our platform focuses on conserved regions of viral genomes, the parts that stay consistent across different variants and are distinct from human DNA," explains Turman. "The AI examines both current and past viral strains to pinpoint the most effective targets — the areas where disrupting the virus actually stops it from functioning. It also anticipates future mutations, helping us develop therapies that remain effective long-term. This approach avoids pitfalls seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, where new variants like Omicron rapidly outpaced existing treatments and vaccines."

Promising Early Results
In the laboratory, Viritis's treatment was 97.1 percent effective in protecting cells from viral infection. "Unlike many antiviral drugs that may interfere with essential protein production, our molecule features a built-in control element that breaks it down after a specific period, significantly reducing the risk of long-term side effects," explains Dr. Philosoph.
Viritis has secured funding from the Israel Innovation Authority, completed initial testing and is now raising a second round to initiate clinical trials. The company is part of the NVIDIA Inception Program, leveraging the platform to enhance its AI algorithms for faster, more precise virus detection. Its innovations are patented in the US, Europe, China, India and Israel.

"Our technology not only enables the development of more effective antivirals, but also significantly shortens the development timeline compared with traditional pharmaceutical processes," says Wistouch. "Once we secure initial FDA approval, subsequent treatments using the same molecular framework can move through the approval process much faster, which is extremely attractive to potential pharmaceutical partners."

Ready for Future Pandemics Reflecting on the COVID-19 pandemic that triggered the creation of Viritis, Dr. Philosoph is confident that the company can respond swiftly to the next viral outbreak. "If a new virus emerges, we can quickly sequence it, analyze it using AI tools, identify its viral family and core genes, and pinpoint the most effective target sites," she says. "With this approach, I believe we could ready a treatment within three to four months."
"Most COVID-related deaths resulted from excessive immune responses or extremely high viral loads," explains Turman. "People often died only after the virus had replicated extensively, overwhelming the body's defenses. Our treatment works by lowering the viral load early, before the illness becomes severe. The sooner it's taken, the more effectively it curbs viral replication, reducing the risk of serious complications. That is, it isn't a vaccine. It's a treatment for those already infected and symptomatic."

It can also be used preventively, he continues. "If someone is exposed to the virus, the drug can help stop symptoms developing. We've already tested it on coronavirus and influenza viruses, and it remained effective even as these viruses mutated. Because it targets conserved regions, it's suitable for most strains, including new ones that may emerge. And, crucially, our molecule remains stable at room temperature, eliminating the need for ultra-cold storage, a major logistical benefit during global health emergencies.

Beyond Viruses: A Versatile Platform
"At the moment," says Turman, "we're focused on finishing preclinical studies and moving into human trials. But looking ahead, our vision extends far beyond antivirals. We believe our platform can be adapted to target other diseases as well, even to cancer."

In collaboration with Viritis