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news.Replicor's lead compound, REP 9, has been shown to have potent antiviral activity against avian H5N1 influenza virus in test tube studies.
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The influenza virus used in the study was A/Vietnam/1203/04, a human pathogenic avian influenza isolated from a fatally infected patient. This virus is highly aggressive and replicates much more rapidly than normal strains of the influenza virus.
This initial demonstration of REP 9 in vitro activity against H5N1 was generated in collaboration with Dr Michael Holbrook at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston in their level 4 biosafety facility.
REP 9 has also recently been shown to have potent antiviral activity against influenza virus strains which are resistant to the action of Tamiflu and Relenza. Both drugs are currently marketed for the therapy of influenza infections.
In previous studies, aerosol administered REP 9 was shown to prevent the spread of influenza in mice. Additional tissue culture studies have shown that REP 9 has potent antiviral activity in 20 strains of influenza A and B, demonstrating its potential application against emergent flu viruses.
REP 9 inhibits both neuraminidase and hemagglutinin, two viral proteins essential for replication.