Session: New and Emerging Therapies
Location:
103/104
Session Date:
Monday, 9/27/99
Session Time:
2:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Presentation Time:
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Pleconaril for Enteroviral Infections
H.A. Rotbart
Univ. of Colorado: Denver, CO
The picornaviruses, particularly the enteroviruses (EVs) and rhinoviruses, are among the
most common and most important viral pathogens of humans. In the U.S. alone, the EVs
are estimated to cause 5 to 10 million symptomatic infections annually, including
meningitis, encephalitis, poliomyelitis, myocarditis, hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, hand
foot-mouth syndrome, pleurodynia, severe neonatal disease, and non-specific febrile
illnesses. Pleconaril (ViroPharma, Inc; Exton, PA) inhibits EV and rhinovirus replication
by inhibiting viral uncoating and blocking viral attachment to host cell receptors; the drug
is highly orally-bioavailable. A favorable safety profile is attributed to the metabolic
stability and viral-specific nature of the mechanism of action. The compound has been
studied in a variety of clinical trials including an EV challenge study in volunteers;
compassionate use in more than 40 patients with life-threatening EV infections, and three
(two adult, one pediatric) double-blinded, placebo-controlled studies in meningitis.
Evidence for a beneficial effect of pleconaril was seen in all of these studies, the data for
which will be presented. Studies of pleconaril in other diseases, including viral respiratory
infection and severe neonatal EV disease, are underway. |
