Dr Preethy Paul, Co-founder and CEOFinnish biotechnology company ATB Antivirals Oy is developing its two lead treatments with this goal in mind. It is advancing ATB 101 as a topical candidate engineered to treat persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, along with ATB 201, a multi-action nasal spray designed to halt respiratory viral infections before they take hold. Though addressing vastly different stages of disease, both programmes are structured to generate clear, early clinical proof that delivers decisive answers before major capital commitments are made.
At the heart of this strategy is a fundamentally different approach to intervention.
“Using our technologies, we attack the viral disease at its absolute source, extinguishing it before it takes root, rather than simply managing the damage after the fact,” says Dr Preethy Paul, co-founder and CEO. “That targeted precision is what allows us to show clear biological activity early in development.”
Moving HPV Treatment Upstream
ATB 101 targets a critical treatment gap after HPV infection takes hold. While vaccines prevent new infections, they cannot treat active carriers and existing external genital wart treatments often remove visible lesions without clearing the underlying viral presence. ATB 101 is engineered to target both sides of that equation through a single topical candidate.
The science behind the compound targets HPV oncoproteins E6 and E7. In vitro cell studies show degradation via a ubiquitin-mediated pathway, a mechanism that ATB has further validated in preclinical work, including naturally occurring PV lesions, a high-risk HPV mouse model and an HPV16-positive cervical cancer xenograft.
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Using our technologies, we attack the viral disease at its absolute source, extinguishing it before it takes root, rather than simply managing the damage after the fact. That targeted precision is what allows us to show clear biological activity early in development.
That programme has already crossed an important development threshold. ATB has shown that the compound can be produced at high purity at an industrial scale and formulated into a topical product. For patients, that could mean an at-home treatment aimed at both the lesion and the infection. For future partners, it means an asset moving from discovery towards something manufacturable and testable.
ATB 101 is now progressing through GLP preclinical studies. The planned first-in-human trials will enrol patients with external genital warts, enabling ATB to evaluate safety while generating early clinical proof-of-concept signals. These early indicators provide a data-driven basis for committing to larger, late-stage trials.
Blocking Infection Before It Gains Ground
ATB 201 addresses viral infection from the preventive end of the spectrum, aiming to stop respiratory viruses before they become established.
The spray combines three repurposed, clinically used active ingredients with complementary actions across viral entry, replication and local inflammation. Its strength lies in creating multiple checkpoints. If a virus moves past one, another mechanism remains in play.
A viral respiratory infection is the major cause of sick leave, childcare absence and seasonal pressure on healthcare services. In elderly patients and those with chronic illnesses, it may represent a life-threatening condition. Used during periods of heightened exposure or in the event of a pandemic, ATB 201 could provide an immediate layer of protection or even life-saving therapy against the viral disease.
ATB plans to test the concept through controlled viral-challenge studies. If the programme shows a measurable preventive signal early, prospective partners gain evidence they can weigh before committing to broader and more expensive trials.
Proof Before Scale
ATB itself grew from the combination of two complementary ventures. Paul and fellow researchers established Anison Therapeutics around HPV technology developed at Åbo Akademi University. Therapeutica Borealis brought the respiratory programme. Their merger created a portfolio spanning persistent and acute infection.
That structure now supports a clear commercial model. ATB intends to advance both assets through preclinical development and early clinical proof of concept, then seek pharmaceutical and speciality-pharma licensing partners for later development and commercialisation.
Recognised as Top Antiviral Drug Development Platform in Europe 2026 by Life Sciences Review Europe, ATB is building more than two antiviral candidates. It is building the evidence that helps future partners decide what deserves to move next.
How Antiviral Platforms Convert Mechanism into Clinical Proof
Antiviral development is difficult to evaluate because the scientific target can be compelling while the development path remains uncertain. Programs aimed at persistent infections face a different burden from products intended to block acute infection before it takes hold. Executives need to understand whether a platform has a defined biological rationale and whether its formulation suits the point of intervention. The development plan must also generate meaningful evidence early enough to support further investment.
Mechanistic clarity matters most when a program claims to act on the infection itself rather than only on visible disease. A credible platform should show how the active compound interacts with the viral process and how that mechanism has been tested across relevant models. For HPV-focused programs, that means looking beyond lesion reduction alone and examining whether preclinical evidence addresses viral proteins or pathways associated with persistence. The distinction affects both product positioning and the strength of the clinical hypothesis. Buyers should also separate promising model data from evidence that has already reached human studies.
Route of administration can change the development burden just as much as the molecular concept. Topical antiviral products may limit exposure while allowing treatment to be directed at the affected tissue, but tolerability and treatment adherence remain material. A formulation that causes irritation can weaken a course of therapy even when the underlying compound is active. Respiratory prevention introduces another set of design questions. Nasal delivery places the intervention at the mucosal surface, where viral entry begins, but efficacy depends on more than forming a physical barrier if multiple viral processes remain available.
“ATB Antivirals Oy is also developing ATB 201, a preventive nasal spray that combines three repurposed, clinically used active ingredients with complementary actions at the respiratory mucosa.”
Development stage should be judged against the type of evidence expected next. Preclinical efficacy is not interchangeable with a GLP safety package, and neither substitutes for clinical proof of concept. Executives should examine whether the program has a practical path from current studies into first-in-human work and whether the proposed phase one design can produce an early signal of activity. Programs using repurposed active ingredients may follow a different preclinical route from novel compounds, but the regulatory logic still needs to be clear. Early proof of concept becomes particularly valuable when a company intends to license the asset after initial clinical validation. A platform should also make clear which development milestones are expected to de-risk a partnership and what evidence will be available before a prospective licensee assumes later-stage development. Commercial planning deserves scrutiny because licensing assumptions can shape evidence packages long before a transaction. Buyers should look for a development sequence that gives partners enough data to judge dose and tolerability alongside biological activity and duration without forcing pivotal decisions from incomplete signals.
ATB Antivirals Oy is developing two topical antiviral programs built around different intervention points. ATB 101 is a topical HPV treatment now in GLP preclinical development, supported by in vitro and animal work examining E6 and E7 protein degradation and lesion response. ATB Antivirals Oy is also developing ATB 201, a preventive nasal spray that combines three repurposed, clinically used active ingredients with complementary actions at the respiratory mucosa. The company plans regulatory preclinical work for ATB 201 after its current efficacy studies, while both programs are intended to move toward early clinical proof of concept before licensing discussions. For buyers evaluating platforms that combine defined mechanisms with an early partnering model, ATB Antivirals Oy merits consideration.
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