Progenics Selects Small-Molecule Hepatitis C Drug Candidate for Clinical Development
SAN FRANCISCO & TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Nov 04, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PGNX) today announced the selection of a proprietary small-molecule drug candidate, designated PRO 206, for clinical development as a treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Pre-clinical results supporting the development of PRO 206 were presented today at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) in San Francisco. PRO 206 is an orally available viral-entry inhibitor, designed to prevent HCV from entering and infecting healthy liver cells.
PRO 206 represents an innovative treatment strategy as it specifically blocks the hepatitis C virus. HCV currently is treated with interferon in combination with ribavirin, non-specific antiviral agents that are associated with significant side effects and failure rates. Targeted antiviral agents are widely viewed to be a promising approach to improving treatment of HCV infection.
"The development of specifically targeted antiviral therapy for HCV (STAT-C) has the potential to transform treatment of this disease," said Ira M. Jacobson, M.D., Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Medical Director of the Center for the Study of Hepatitis C at the Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University. "Inhibiting viral entry is a proven approach for treating other viral diseases, and I look forward to seeing this strategy explored in HCV infection."
PRO 206: Summary of results
PRO 206 belongs to a class of novel small-molecule drug candidates that were discovered and developed by Progenics scientists as potent and selective inhibitors of HCV entry. The results of laboratory and animal studies of PRO 206 were described in a poster presentation at AASLD. In each of two well-established in vitro models of HCV entry and replication, PRO 206 demonstrated potent inhibitory activity at concentrations that had no measurable effect on cell viability or entry of unrelated viruses. PRO 206 also demonstrated high oral bioavailability and a prolonged pharmacokinetic half-life in animals. The antiviral and pharmacokinetic properties observed for PRO 206 suggest the potential for once-daily dosing in humans. A copy of the AASLD poster can be accessed via the following link: progenics.com.
"PRO 206 was discovered at Progenics and reflects the outstanding efforts of our discovery scientists," said William C. Olson, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Research and Development, Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. "Our HCV entry program leverages our expertise in the discovery and development of HIV entry inhibitors such as PRO 140, which is currently in phase 2 clinical trials. We look forward to completing the IND-enabling studies in 2009 in preparation for phase 1 clinical trials."
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There are reasons why for HCV an excellent entry inhibitor makes a lot of sense. I have to go and look at Migenix and Samaritan, etc. and see what is going on over there. |
