Therapeutic Focus
Viral Diseases
While antibiotics and vaccines have contributed to the management of many microbial diseases, viruses present an especially difficult medical challenge. The molecular characteristics of viruses and their rapid mutation rates make them a moving target for both drug therapy and vaccines. The time required for development and approval of new antivirals and vaccines is lengthy and is in sharp contrast to the viruses’ ability to rapidly mutate to less controllable forms. As a result, very few effective and safe antivirals exist and diseases of viral etiology are expected to increase dramatically in the decades to come.
Intrucept’s broad-spectrum antivirals have the potential for managing diseases caused by a wide variety of viral pathogens. The Company’s initial research efforts are focused on two viral syndromes that have worldwide reach and whose control by conventional intervention has proven difficult – influenza, and HIV.
Influenza
Intrucept Biomedicine has selected influenza as one of its therapeutic targets because of the disease’s continued worldwide presence, the extent of suffering, mortality and economic toll imposed on both developed and developing countries, and the high need for new products that are less susceptible to the pervasive problem of resistance that plagues current therapeutic medications. Intrucept believes that its antiviral technology and product concepts can overcome the limitations of current drugs and create new opportunities for preventative and curative management of this serious disease.
Influenza ("flu") is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every year in the United States, on average, between 5% and 20% of the U.S. population gets the flu. The best way to prevent this illness is by getting a flu vaccination each fall. Because antigenic determinants in the virus responsible for the disease can vary from year to year, different flu vaccines must be produced yearly to match the viral threat. A shortcoming of these vaccines is that they do not help those already exposed. Antiviral therapeutics, such as Tamiflu® or Relenza®, are approved for early onset, post-exposure therapy and can ameliorate the severity of symptoms. Like many drugs, these antivirals are prone to the development of viral resistance. Intrucept believes that the novel mode of action of its products could offer a combination of high antiviral potency and a low probability of resistance. Visit this link for more information on influenza.
HIV
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the multiple diseases it can lead to (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, AIDS) is a chronic and growing problem of global proportions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at the end of 2003, an estimated 1,039,000 to 1,185,000 persons in the United States were living with HIV/AIDS, with an estimated 40,000 persons in the U.S. becoming infected with HIV each year.
The HIV/AIDS epidemic is dramatically expanded on a global scale, especially in developing nations where education, sanitation and medical care are inadequate. A recent UNAIDS/WHO report points out that there are over 40 million people currently infected by HIV, of which 38 million are men, 17.5 million are women, and 2.3 million are children.
Intrucept Biomedicine has selected HIV as one of its therapeutic targets because of the virus’ continued and growing worldwide reach. There is an urgent need for new products that are less susceptible to the problem of resistance afflicting current anti-HIV drugs, and for affordable medications that can be shipped, distributed and applied in developing nations. Intrucept believes that its antiviral technology and product concepts can overcome the limitations of current HIV drugs. Visit this link for more information on HIV.
Other therapeutic targets
Intrucept Biomedicine will remain focused on applying its product technology to drugs and devices for the management of influenza and HIV. However, the Company’s long-range plan is to develop existing and improved formulations of its current lead compounds for the prevention and management of other viral diseases of importance to public health, including weaponizable viruses that could be used to threaten homeland security.
