Coronaviruses

Coronaviruses (CoV) are a family of viruses that historically have been associated with a wide range of responses, from no symptoms to more severe disease that includes pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), kidney failure and death. By targeting the viral replication enzymes and protease, we believe it is possible to develop an effective treatment for all coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV). 

We are developing highly potent and safe antiviral therapeutics for SARS-CoV-2 and its variants for hospitalized patients, as well as for those not requiring hospitalization, including for prophylactic use to provide protection to uninfected individuals who may become exposed. 

To learn more about coronavirus, please visit the information page at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

CDI-988 – Coronavirus and Norovirus Protease Inhibitor

We are developing a novel pan-viral protease inhibitor CDI-988 as an oral treatment for coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and MERS, as well as norovirus. CDI-988 was specifically designed and developed using our proprietary structure-based drug discovery platform technology as a broad-spectrum antiviral inhibitor to a highly conserved region in the active site of coronaviruses, noroviruses and other 3CL viral proteases.

CDI-988 exhibited broad-spectrum antiviral activity against coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2. 

A Phase 1 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center trial in healthy adults conducted in Australia showed that oral CDI‑988 was safe and well tolerated at all tested doses up to 1200 mg. No serious treatment‑emergent adverse events (TEAEs), no clinically relevant ECG changes and no clinically significant lab or pathology abnormalities were reported.

Novel Replication Inhibitors

We are pursuing a coronavirus program using our unique structure-based drug discovery technology to design novel, broad-spectrum replication inhibitors.