Small Molecule Therapeutics for Treating Hepatitis C (HCV)
Section: For Industry
Categories: "Viruses, Chronic & Infectious Diseases"
Reference #: 2009-020
OTC Contact: Blaine Hackman, Ph.D. (Directory Information | Send a Message)
Description
Georgetown University is seeking a partner in the development and commercialization of a new class of drugs for treating chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. This new class of compounds has demonstrated high potency against HCV. Chronic HCV afflicts approximately 170 million people worldwide and 3.2 million people in the United States, and symptoms include liver cirrhosis, heptocellular carcinoma and liver failure. This prospective therapy comprises an unexplored class of small molecule HCV drugs. Current HCV therapies are expensive and have serious side effects, and thus these compounds have the potential to significantly improve the quality of HCV therapy for patients.
Applications
This technology encompasses a novel class of small molecule anti-HCV compounds. These compounds may be administered alone or in combination with other therapies for the treatment of HCV.Advantages
- Novel compositions are unique and do not resemble any known anti-HCV compounds.
- Small molecule therapies may offer a lower cost alternative to interferon/ribavirin combinations (commonly $20,000/year per patient) currently used to treat HCV.
- Current treatments, such as interferon/ribavirin, exhibit serious side effects (e.g., flulike symptoms and anemia), which spurs demand for alternative therapies.
Stage of Development
The synthesis and screening of novel compounds has led to the development of a novel class of anti-HCV compounds. In vitro screening has revealed a number of compounds that demonstrate potencies (EC50) in the low micormolar range and 90% HCV RNA inhibitory values of less than 10 micromolar. Observed selectivity indices (SI) defined as CC50 (toxicity)/EC50 (antiviral activity) of at least 10, with equivalent activity for both HCV genotypes 1a and 1b.Relevant Publications
No references or resources available.
Patent Status
Patents are currently pending covering both compositions and methods of use
