ImQuest Life Sciences files IND application for HIV drug

ImQuest anticipates initiating its Phase I studies in the first quarter of 2009. IQP-0410 is a novel small molecule inhibitor of HIV which primarily acts as a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. The compound possesses a second mechanism of action which prevents the entry of HIV into target cells and significantly raises the potential genetic barrier to resistance with IQP-0410 therapy, the company has said.

According to the company, preclinical pharmacokinetic and toxicology studies have demonstrated the potential for once per day dosing and a high safety margin for the compound. IQP-0410 has also been found to inhibit HIV replication at sub-nanomolar concentration levels and to have highly significant activity against all clinical virus strains evaluated as well as against multi-drug resistant virus strains obtained from patients failing long courses of therapy with currently approved RT and protease inhibitors.

Robert Buckheit, Jr, executive vice president and chief scientific officer of ImQuest Life Sciences, said: The submission of this investigational new drug (IND) represents a critical milestone in the therapeutic development of the pyrimidinedione class of molecules as potential new HIV drugs and an important success in the strategic drug development initiatives between ImQuest and Samjin Pharmaceutical Co of Seoul, Korea.

We believe that IQP-0410 will be a new and novel addition to the armamentarium of HIV drugs available and provide HIV-infected individuals with a safe and effective alternative to current therapies.