SPRIN-D awards research contract in the field of viral infections and sepsis to WMT AG
WMT tests substances from the “Translational Trap” platform for antiviral and antisepsis effects in cellular assays and animal models
Leipzig and Heidelberg, July 21, 2025
The German Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovations (SPRIN-D) and WMT AG in Heidelberg announced today that SPRIN-D has awarded WMT a research contract. WMT will test selected small molecule active ingredients from its “Translational Trap” program for their suitability for combating acute viral infections and the frequently associated cytokine storm, also known as viral sepsis.
Dr. Claus Kremoser, CEO of WMT AG, comments: “We are naturally very pleased about this “accolade” that the prestigious SPRIN-D gives us the opportunity to test our new active ingredients in this area. We discovered very potent antiviral effects with our lead compounds early on. Later, we discovered that our “TT” substances, in addition to their antiviral effect, also very effectively inhibit an excessive immune response. Both of these combined properties are almost ideal for combating acute viral lung and bronchial infections caused by influenza, coronaviruses, or similar viruses. SPRIN-D now gives us the mandate and the resources to study this extensively.”
Prof. Dr. Andreas Zaby, Innovation Manager at SPRIN-D, adds: “WMT’s technology represents an interesting new approach for simultaneously combating respiratory viral infections and cytokine storms, or the sepsis effect. We are generally interested in novel anti-infectives and we recognize the high medical need, which is unfortunately coupled with a current low level of interest in new therapies on the part of pharmaceutical companies and investors. This is where SPRIN-D steps in to ensure that potential breakthrough innovations can be validated. The project with WMT’s “TT” substances is precisely such a case.”
Dr. Iryna Charapitsa, Chief Scientific Officer at WMT AG, explains: “Our approach is both conservative and groundbreaking. The tried-and-tested format of our active ingredients or medications is the same: they are classic small molecules, i.e., chemically produced substances that can be manufactured relatively inexpensively. What’s radically new is how they work: we don’t inhibit individual viral proteins, as most antiviral agents do; nor do we simply stimulate or inhibit the immune system, as many new therapies attempt to do. We over-activate the cells that have just been infected with the virus, instructing them to produce even more protein than they would already make due to the viral infection; at the same time, we interfere with protein production, but only in the virus-infected cells or the immune cells stimulated by them. In this way, we very efficiently shut down viral replication and simultaneously block the making of aggressive, pro-inflammatory cytokines. To our knowledge, there is no other approach that simultaneously and effectively combats viral replication and the excessive immune response with a single therapeutic principle. This is our translational trap.”
WMT AG is a research-based biotech company based in Heidelberg, founded in 2020. Dr. Claus Kremoser, the main founder and current CEO of WMT Aktiengesellschaft, has 25 years of experience in the research, development, and commercialization of drug discovery projects and has already brought four drugs into clinical development.
WMT researches and develops small-molecule active ingredients that target new mechanisms of action in cancer and immune cells, as well as virus-infected cells. WMT has developed and patented a chemical platform of so-called translational trap molecules. The TT molecules stimulate cells to produce even more protein while simultaneously inhibiting the actual protein translation. This leads to a highly effective blockade of cancer cells, stimulated and activated immune cells, or virus-infected cells. This opens up a broad range of applications for this completely new approach in various types of cancer, chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatism, lupus, or vasculitis, as well as viral infections and viral sepsis.
WMT AG pursues the goal of developing highly innovative yet affordable medicines with significant medical benefits. WMT develops therapies that are intended to be used worldwide, including in developing countries, for the benefit of patients while also protecting healthcare budgets.
To date, WMT has been financed primarily by various private investors and family offices, as well as by the High-Tech Gründerfonds, and is open to further investment inquiries.
