Influenza
Influenza is a severe respiratory illness caused by either the influenza A or B virus that results in outbreaks of disease mainly during the winter months.
Currently approved antiviral treatments for influenza are partially effective and prone to viral resistance. Strains of flu virus that are resistant to approved treatments, osteltamivir (Tamiflu™), zanamavir (Relenza™) and Xofluza have appeared and in some cases are predominant. For example, the predominant strain of the 2009 swine influenza pandemic was resistant to Tamiflu™.
These drugs target one of two viral proteins, hemagglutinin or neuraminidase, neither of which is highly conserved between viral strains. In fact, different influenza virus strains such as H1N1 and H5N1 are named by their respective differences in hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N) proteins. The ability of the influenza virus to produce viable variants of these two proteins is the key to its ability to develop resistance.
To learn more about influenza, please visit the information page at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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We are developing novel, broad spectrum influenza antivirals that are specifically designed to be effective against all significant A strains of the influenza virus and to have a high barrier to resistance due to the way they target the virus’s replication machinery. Our uniquely developed molecules target the influenza polymerase, an essential replication enzyme with several highly essential regions common to multiple influenza strains, including pandemic strains.
| Program | Discovery | Preclinical | Phase 1 | Phase 2a | Phase 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Influenza
CC-42344 (Influenza A PB2 Inhibitor) |
Discovery Phase complete
|
Preclinical Phase in progress
|
Phase 1 Phase not started
|
Phase 2a Phase not started
|
Phase 3 Phase not started
|
| Influenza Influenza A/B Inhibitor |
Discovery Phase complete
|
Preclinical Phase in progress
|
Phase 1 Phase not started
|
Phase 2a Phase not started
|
Phase 3 Phase not started
|
CC-42344 - Influenza A PB2 Inhibitor
CC-42344, our lead molecule, binds to a highly conserved PB2 site of influenza polymerase complex and exhibits a novel mechanism of action which inhibits replication. CC-42344 has shown excellent antiviral activity against influenza A strains, including avian pandemic strains and Tamiflu® resistant strains, and shows favorable pharmacokinetic and drug resistance profiles. CC-42344 is currently being evaluated in preclinical IND-enabling studies for the treatment of influenza.
Influenza A/B Inhibitor
We are developing another class of influenza antivirals targeting influenza polymerase complex (PB1:PB2:PA) for the treatment of influenza A and B infections. We are currently improving antiviral potency and drug-like properties of the influenza A/B dual inhibitors.
We are currently engaged in an exclusive license and collaboration agreement with Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. (“Merck”) to discover and develop certain proprietary influenza A/B antiviral agents.
Under the terms of the agreement, Merck will fund all research and development for the program, including clinical development, and will be responsible for worldwide commercialization of any products derived from the collaboration. Cocrystal was paid a $4 million upfront license fee and is eligible to receive payments related to designated development, regulatory and sales milestones with the potential to earn up to $156 million, plus undisclosed royalties on product sales.