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Biotech / Medical : SUNPHARM Pharmaceuticals (SUNP)
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To: JMarcus who wrote (34)3/10/1999 11:15:00 PM
From: JMarcus  Read Replies (1) of 52
 
I spoke to Paul Herron again today. He is presenting at an Informed Investors Forum in San Diego (not my San Francisco--my mistake) this Saturday. I asked what if anything different from his last presentation might be forthcoming. He said that he intended to speak more about SUNP's new AIDS drug. He referred me to the 1996 Annual Report for information about this compound, which is truly exciting as a novel approach for attacking the HIV virus.

The reverse transcriptase and protease inhibitors work by blocking the production of enzymes needed for conversion of viral RNA to DNA and assembly of viral components into infective virus. The SUNP compound has an entirely different mechanism of action. It works by altering cellular EIF 5A, an initiation factor that is necessary for protein synthesis and that normally binds with the rev responsive element on the viral envelope messenger RNA. If EIF 5A does not bind with the viral envelope messenger RNA, the cell is unable to produce the viral proteins needed in order to replicate the virus. Stop the virus from replicating and you've cured the disease!

Here is what the 1996 Annual Report says on the subject: "The viral rev gene is a regulatory gene that is required for the production of viral structural components by the infected cell. The product of the viral rev gene combines in the nucleus with cellular EIF 5A, an initiation factor necessary for protein synthesis. This combination moves across the nuclear membrane to the cytoplasm where it binds with the rev responsive element on the viral envelope messenger RNA. The viral message contained in the envelope message is then read or translated by the cell to produce viral proteins necessary for viral survival and propagation. [SUNP's] proprietary analogue compound . . . [appears to] alter EIF 5A in such a way as to inhibit its combination with the rev gene product or the ability of the combination to bind to the envelope messenger. Without this important phase of the viral life-cycle, HIV cannot survive and infect new lymphocytes Although the HIV virus has a tremendous ability to mutate, this approach may represent an 'Achilles heel' in the virus' life cycle where mutation may be unimportant and may lead to new drugs for the treatment of AIDS."

Paul cautioned that this potential blockbuster drug is so exciting that he needs to tone down his previous announcement of its being ready for an IND. The company wants to study it a little more before it risks getting up the hopes of the AIDS community.

He did promise, however, that news on the preclinical progress of this new drug will appear in the 1998 Annual Report, which will be released by the end of this month.

Marc
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