Treating Flavivirus Infections with Amodiaquine and Derivatives Thereof

Categories: “Viruses, Chronic & Infectious Diseases”

Reference #: 2014-026

OTC Contact: Tracy L. Bruehs, M.S., J.D., Associate Director (Directory Information | Send a Message)

Description

Despite the increase in incidence and seriousness of flavivirus infections such as Dengue and West Nile Virus, there remain no available treatment strategies to manage or prevent the disease. Utilizing a high throughput screening method to identify inhibitors of the Dengue Virus Protease, Georgetown researchers have identified the FDA-approved antimalarial compound amodiaquine as a potent inhibitor of Dengue Virus Protease. Further work has demonstrated that additional amodiaquine derivatives are candidate anti-flavivirus thereapeutics. The repurposing of these compounds offers regulatory advantages due to their established safety in humans, representing an opportunity to treat a neglected disease with an established drug.

Advantages

• Viral proteases represent ideal targets for anti-viral therapies.
• Repurposing of FDA-approved compounds faces fewer regulatory hurdles.

Stage of Development

• In vitro proof of concept

Patent Status

• Patent Pending: PCT/US2015/014578

Inventor

Radakrishnan Padmanabhan