BOTHELL, Wash., Oct. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:COCP) announces the selection of its novel, broad-spectrum antiviral drug candidate CDI-988 for clinical development as an oral treatment for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. CDI-988 targets a highly conserved region in the active site of SARS-CoV-2 main (3CL) protease required for viral replication, and was specifically designed and developed as an oral antiviral candidate for COVID-19 using Cocrystal’s proprietary structure-based drug discovery platform technology.
In January 2022 the Company announced its intention to evaluate two oral protease inhibitors prior to selecting a lead candidate for clinical development. Both CDI-988 and the other candidate exhibited superior in vitro potency and broad-spectrum antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses. In preclinical studies, both candidates demonstrated favorable safety profiles and pharmacokinetic properties supportive of oral administration for the treatment of COVID-19.
“We reached the decision to move forward with clinical development of CDI-988 based on its distinct mechanism of action including an exceptionally strong affinity to the SARS-CoV-2 3CL (or main) protease compared to the known protease inhibitors and superior broad-spectrum antiviral activity against other RNA viruses,” said Sam Lee, Ph.D., Cocrystal’s President and co-interim CEO. “We are very excited about the selection of the first oral clinical candidate among our proprietary protease inhibitors.
In addition to COVID-19 antivirals, we are committed to developing potential best-in-class antiviral therapeutics to protect people worldwide from the threats of viral diseases,” he added. “Upon completion of IND-enabling toxicology studies of CDI-988, we plan to file for regulatory approval to begin a first-in-human trial in Australia in the first quarter of 2023.”
About SARS-CoV-2
SARS-CoV-2 is part of a family of coronaviruses that historically has been associated with a wide range of responses in infected individuals, ranging from no symptoms to severe disease that includes pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), kidney failure and death. By targeting the viral replication enzymes and protease, Cocrystal believes it is possible to develop an effective treatment for all illnesses caused by coronaviruses including COVID-19, SARS and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.
Cocrystal is executing on a strategy to develop highly potent and safe pan-coronavirus antivirals for SARS-CoV-2 and its variants for hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients, as well as for prophylactic use by uninfected individuals.