Viral and Fungal Inhibitors

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Viral and Fungal Inhibitors Description      A new compound class that may be used for the treatment of flavivirus infections, including dengue, West Nile virus and encephalitis, has been discovered. At present there are no drugs or vaccines available that are indicated for the treatment and/or prevention of these diseases. Specific compounds of this invention exhibit significantly greater than 80% inhibition of West Nile virus protease, and thus represent an exciting opportunity to capture a growing disease area that is in dire need of new therapies. Applications This technology encompasses small molecule drugs for the treatment and prevention of flavivirus infections in humans, in particular dengue and West Nile. Advantages Compounds of the invention offer new therapeutic leads in a disease area that lacks any approved therapies. This class of inhibitor compounds has not been previously described in the literature to be inhibitors of West Nile virus protease. Relevant Publications Padmanabhan, R. et al. “Identification and Biochemical Characterization of Small-Molecule Inhibitors of West Nile Virus Serine Protease by a High Throughput Screen.” Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, Sept. 2008, p. 3385-3393. Stage of Development The compounds of the invention treat patients afflicted by flavivirus infections by inhibiting flavivirus serine protease. Structure Activity Relationship (SAR) analysis has been used to optimize the structures of these compounds. Research is ongoing, including cytotoxicity assays and mammalian cell-based assays. Patent Status Patents are currently pending