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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Therapy
How can HIV infection / AIDS be treated?
Anti-HIV drugs inhibit proliferation of the virus by interfering with various phases of its life cycle. They are always used in combination therapy:
Reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RT inhibitors) interfere with transcription of the genetic information of the virus from RNA into DNA. In this way they inhibit a process that results in the genetic material of the virus being incorporated into the genetic material of the infected cell.
Protease inhibitors deprive the virus of proteins that it needs in order to infect new cells. Though new viral particles continue to be formed, they are unable to infect new cells.
Fusion inhibitors prevent HIV from entering, and thus infecting, cells. Uninfected cells are protected.
Combination therapy with at least two drugs often reduces viral replication to such an extent that the viral burden falls below the limit of detection. Strict observance of the prescribed therapeutic regimen is very important for success. Rapid adaptation of viruses is leading increasingly to the development of resistance and cross-resistance to drugs. This imposes a need for continuing research and development of new therapies with novel modes of action.
© 2009 F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd « Back