Arisyn has recently announced its acquisition of a series of inhibitors with demonstrated preclinical efficacy against HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV), HTLV-I, influenza virus, herpes viruses and cancer. These inhibitors were originally discovered and developed by The Proctor & Gamble Company.
Lead molecules from the portfolio have already been evaluated in Phase I human clinical trials for the treatment of HIV and cancer, and an investigational new drug-application has been prepared for submission to the FDA to initiate trials for HCV therapy.
ImQuest BioSciences will provide all required support to initiate human clinical trials with lead products ATI-0312 for HIV and ATI-0810 for HCV and will initiate mechanistic studies to define the unique virus transcription inhibitory mechanism of action of the class of inhibitors. ImQuest will also lead Arisyn’s efforts to develop next generation inhibitors from structure activity relationship studies and target-based drug design programs.
Robert Buckheit Jr, director of R&D at Arisyn and president and chief scientific officer of ImQuest, said: “The Arisyn compounds represent an entirely new treatment paradigm by effectively suppressing the ability of the HIV or HCV-infected cells to act as the factories of progeny virus production. The compounds have proven efficacy and safety in preclinical studies and their successful development will be of immense benefit to the millions of individuals living with HIV and HCV infection.”