Unmet Medical Need
Seasonal influenza still causes as many as 500,000 deaths every year. Influenza pandemics have killed millions
of people in the past. Currently, only two classes of drugs are available for treating influenza infections.
Unfortunately, the current available drugs are not effective for many reasons including drug resistance, inefficiency
and / or toxicity.
At Viramatix, we have developed peptide-based therapeutics which are proving effective against all seasonal and
pandemic influenza viruses.
The Current Stage of Development
We have identified peptide compounds which are extremely potent against a broad range of human influenza viruses
(seasonal / pandemic) as well as non-human influenza viruses (Avian / Equine, etc). The efficacy of our compounds
have been confirmed by both in vitro and in vivo testing.
Toxicological studies to date do not indicate any significant toxicity in human primary hepatocytes, human primary
lung cells, canine kidney cells as well as PBMCs. They also do not possess any haemolytic, mutagenic and cardio-toxic
(hERG inhibition) potential. Detailed pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and toxicology properties have been studied
in detail and the compounds are now ready to enter into pre-clinical studies.
Unmet Medical Need
Cytomegalovirus is a common virus which infects people of all ages and is highly prevalent worldwide. It can cause
serious diseases such as blindness, encephalitis, pneumonia, extremely painful ulcers etc. among individuals with
weakened immune system. The virus can also be passed from a pregnant mother to her unborn child (Congenital CMV).
Currently, there are very limited treatment options available. Available drugs do not cure the infection and have serious side effects.
The Current Stage of Development
Viramatix has already identified excellent leads which can actively inhibit RSV, CMV and HSV-2 virus replication. These leads are in
the process of being tested in animal models for efficacy (where available) and in GLP toxicology studies.
Unmet Medical Need
Respiratory syncytial virus causes acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRI) in children and in immunocompromised people. The virus mainly spreads
via respiratory secretions. A 2005 meta-analysis study on global incidence and mortality of RSV infections among children younger than 5 years
old has indicated that RSV is an important contributor to death in children from ALRI, after pneumococcal pneumonia and Haemophilus influenzae type b. Globally
~ 18 million people are infected every year and ~ 1 million are hospitalised. Almost all children get RSV infection by the age of 2 and 2 - 3 % of them are hospitalised.
Currently there are only two therapeutics available in the market, Palivizumab and Ribavirin. Palivizumab is an expensive, antibody based therapeutic and is mainly
used for prevention. Ribavirin is not generally prescribed due to its high toxicity.
The Current Stage of Development
Viramatix has already identified excellent leads which can actively inhibit RSV, CMV and HSV-2 virus replication. These leads are in
the process of being tested in animal models for efficacy (where available) and in GLP toxicology studies.
Unmet Medical Need
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) is generally categorized into two types: HSV
-1 and HSV
-2. HSV
-1 causes oral herpes and spreads through oral
contact (kissing/sharing toothbrush). HSV
-2 is a sexually transmitted virus and responsible for recurrent genital herpes. The symptoms
include the appearance of painful blisters around genitals and rectum. A person with HSV
-2 infection also becomes more prone to HIV
acquisition and transmission. Current available antiviral medications can reduce the severity of the symptoms but cannot cure the infection.
The Current Stage of Development
Viramatix has already identified excellent leads which can actively inhibit RSV, CMV and HSV
-2 virus replication. These leads are in
the process of being tested in animal models for efficacy (where available) and in GLP toxicology studies.
Unmet Medical Need
HIV remains a great challenge for humanity even 4 decades after the virus was first identified. In 2015, 36.7 million
people were living with HIV all over the world and 1.1 million died due to AIDS related illness in the same year.
Currently, HIV is treated with a combination of medicines called anti-retroviral therapy (ART). ART is not a cure, but
it can reduce the number of viruses in the body of infected persons and thereby providing a chance of living a longer life.
The high cost, inconvenience, and toxicities associated with lifelong treatment, warrant the development of new therapeutics.
The Current Stage of Development
We have identified novel peptides against HIV-1. These will be further optimized for activity against different subtypes of
HIV. Optimization aims to improve the efficacy as well as to attain broad-spectrum activity. These therapeutics should be
able to handle any mutations in the target protein, without any significant toxicity issues. We strongly believe that
the strategy which we employed in the development of anti-influenza therapeutics will be the best approach to achieve the
above mentioned objectives.