Viriom successfully completes clinical safety trial with novel NNRTI, advances to efficacy studies in HIV-infected patients, and to development of HIV microbicide formulation
The Russian Corporation of Nanotechnologies (known as Rusnano) in Moscow, along with a yet-to-be announced co-investor, plans to fund the development of up to 15 potential drug molecules that have unique mechanisms of action, taking them from the preclinical development stage through to Phase 2 clinical trials. "We expect that of the 15 compounds, a few will support the investment," says Andrey Ivaschenko, chairman of ChemRar, the Moscow-based pharmaceutical and biotechnology services company that will provide the first five target molecules. Although the investment is not a huge sum, he notes, a compound can be developed to the Phase 2 clinical stage in Russia for $5-10 million.
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Predisposition
Are genes responsible for HIV infection / AIDS?
No.
In order to be able to infect cells, HIV needs the CD4 receptor and other ‘keys’, or coreceptors. One of these coreceptors is chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5). HIV uses this molecule, which is present on the surface of immune cells, as a ‘key’ to gain entry to the cell. HIV cannot infect cells whose surface does not contain CCR5. Studies have shown that individuals who lack the gene that codes for CCR5 develop AIDS two to four years later than would otherwise be the case.
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