Enanta Announces New Data on EDP-938, a Novel Non-Fusion Inhibitor of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), at the XIX Internati...
June 26 2017 - 7:30AM
Business Wire
- Lead compound shows greater than 4-log
reduction in viral load in an animal model challenged with RSV
- Phase 1 clinical study for RSV expected
to begin in the fourth calendar quarter of 2017
Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENTA), a research and
development-focused biotechnology company dedicated to creating
small molecule drugs for viral infections and liver diseases, today
announced new data on EDP-938, Enanta’s lead compound being
developed for the treatment of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
This new data was presented by Kai Lin, Ph.D., Director of
Virology, Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc., in an oral presentation
titled “EDP-938, a Novel Non-Fusion Replication Inhibitor of
Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Demonstrates Potent Antiviral
Activities both In Vitro and In Vivo,” at the XIX International
Symposium on Respiratory Viral Infections, Berlin, Germany.
In vitro data demonstrated that EDP-938 is a potent inhibitor of
both RSV-A and RSV-B activity, maintaining antiviral activity
post-infection while presenting a high barrier to resistance.
Further, EDP-938 maintained antiviral potency across all clinical
isolates tested as well as virus that was resistant to fusion
inhibitors. The compound inhibited RSV at a post-entry, replication
step and maintained its activity in vitro when given 24 hours post
infection. In addition, combination studies of EDP-938 with other
types of RSV inhibitors, e.g. fusion inhibitors, showed synergistic
antiviral effects. New in vivo data consistent with potent
inhibition of the RSV virus were also presented. EDP-938
demonstrated a greater than 4-log reduction in viral load in an
animal model challenged with RSV virus.
“We are particularly encouraged by the new in vivo data, and
given the favorable preclinical profile for EDP-938, we look
forward to initiating a phase 1 clinical study in the fourth
calendar quarter of 2017,” stated Jay R. Luly, Ph.D., President and
Chief Executive Officer, Enanta.
About EDP-938
EDP-938 is the lead non-fusion inhibitor discovered by Enanta
for potential development for RSV. Enanta believes that its
approach differentiates its compounds from fusion inhibitors
currently in development for RSV because its non-fusion inhibitors
target the virus replication machinery and have demonstrated high
barriers to resistance against the virus in vitro. EDP-938 has been
shown to reduce viral load below the level of detection in vivo.
Additionally, non-fusion inhibitors have the potential of being
effective at later stages of infection.
About RSV
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a virus that infects the
lungs and represents a serious unmet medical need in infants and
children, as well as immune-compromised individuals and the
elderly. RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis
(inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia in
children under 1 year of age in the United States. Each year,
75,000 to 125,000 children in this group are hospitalized due to
RSV infection. Children with compromised (weakened) immune systems
due to a medical condition or medical treatment, adults with
compromised immune systems and those 65 and older are also at
increased risk of severe disease. There is currently no effective
treatment available for treating RSV infection.
About Enanta
Enanta Pharmaceuticals is a research and development-focused
biotechnology company that uses its robust chemistry-driven
approach and drug discovery capabilities to create small molecule
drugs for viral infections and liver diseases. Enanta’s research
and development efforts are currently focused on the following
disease targets: non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)/ primary
biliary cholangitis (PBC), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and
hepatitis B virus (HBV). Enanta has also discovered novel protease
inhibitors that have been developed as part of AbbVie’s hepatitis C
virus (HCV) treatment regimens under a collaboration that now
provides a payment stream, which Enanta uses to fund its research
and development programs. Please visit www.enanta.com for more
information on Enanta’s programs and pipeline.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements,
including statements with respect to the prospects for development
of EDP-938 for the treatment of RSV. Statements that are not
historical facts are based on management’s current expectations,
estimates, forecasts and projections about Enanta’s business and
the industry in which it operates and management’s beliefs and
assumptions. The statements contained in this release are not
guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks,
uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict.
Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from
what is expressed in such forward-looking statements. Important
factors and risks that may affect actual results include: the
discovery and development risks of early stage discovery efforts in
disease areas such as RSV that currently have no therapeutic
treatment; potential competition from the development efforts of
others in this disease area; Enanta’s lack of clinical development
experience; Enanta’s need to attract and retain senior management
and key scientific personnel; Enanta’s need to obtain and maintain
patent protection for its product candidates and avoid potential
infringement of the intellectual property rights of others; and
other risk factors described or referred to in “Risk Factors” in
Enanta’s most recent Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September
30, 2016 and other periodic reports filed more recently with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Enanta cautions investors not
to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained
in this release. These statements speak only as of the date of this
release, and Enanta undertakes no obligation to update or revise
these statements, except as may be required by law.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170626005582/en/
For Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc.InvestorsCarol
Miceli, 617-607-0710cmiceli@enanta.comorMediaMacDougall
Biomedical CommunicationsKari Watson,
781-235-3060kwatson@macbiocom.com
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