Grant: Proof of Principle Program Phase I - Drug Development

We have discovered novel inhibitors of viral infection, which have potential uses as therapeutic or prophylactic drugs against a variety of human pathogenic viruses. These novel drugs act on novel targets through also novel mechanisms. We have identified HCV as a priority target. There is only one treatment clinically approved for HCV, which has major side effects and is only 50% effective against the most predominant HCV genotype in North America, genotype 1. We have solid in vitro evidence of activity of our lead compound against HCV and preliminary evidence of activity in animal models of HCV infection. We have solid evidence of minimal, if any, toxicity in animal models. We will now fully characterize the clinical potential of these drugs by performing extensive efficacy and toxicity studies.