Hepatitis A, B and C-new hepatitis therapies

liver411

Hepatitis A, B and C

-new hepatitis therapies



Zadaxin



Infergen (interferon alphacon-1)

   synthetic, bioengineered type-1 interferon

      custom amino acid sequences by concensus design

         combines characteristics of several different interferon alphas

      chronic hepatitis C infection therapy

         4 million adults in USA

         8.9 million in Europe

        170 million worldwide

      HCV infection leading cause of need for liver transplantation



Intron® A (interferon alpha-2b)

   partnership with Schering-Plough

    targets hepatitis B and C

   $1.1 billion in sales, 1999



Rebetol (Ribavirin)

   targets hepatitis C

      first drug approved against hepatitis C



Rebetron (combination of ribavirin and interferon alpha-2b)

   approved by FDA

   partnership of Schering-Plough and ICN Pharmaceuticals

   $1.1 billion in sales, 1999



Vaccine for Hepatitis B

   partnership with SmithKline-Beecham/Merck



Ostavir Human Anti-Hepatitis B Antibody (OST 577)

   chronic hepatitis B infection

      combination with lamivudine



VP50406

   inhibits RNA replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV)

      not interferon based

   interferon based treatments are available

      side effects

      only 10-40% effective



Recombivax

   hepatitis B vaccine

      partnership with Chiron (royalties)

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Adefovir dipivoxil

   once-a-day oral dosage

   reverse transcriptase inhibitor

      nucleotide analogue chain terminator



LY466700 (Heptazyme)

   ribozyme against conserved genomic sequences of HCV

      hepatitis C virus is an RNA virus (no DNA)

         genes are encoded in the RNA

      ribozyme digests RNA in hepatitis C virus

         cuts all known types of HCV RNA

         virus cannot replicate and infect

    patent protection of ribozymes specific to HCV RNA



   partnership with Eli Lilly



VX-497

   inhibitor of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH)

      antiviral effects

      anti-inflammatory

   may be more beneficial in combination with interferon therapy



HCV Protease Inhibitor

   direct viral enzyme target

      3D structure discovered by Vertex in 1996

         HCV NS3 protease

      key role in viral reproduction

   partnership with Eli Lilly



HCV Helicase Inhibitor

   direct viral enzyme target

      3D structure discovered by Vertex in 1998

         HCV NS3 helicase

            required for HCV reproduction