BioCentury
ARTICLE | Distillery Therapeutics

Therapeutics: HCV NS4B transmembrane protein

March 26, 2015 7:00 AM UTC

In vitro studies suggest imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole-based inhibitors of HCV NS4B transmembrane protein could be combined with other HCV-targeting antivirals to treat HCV infection. Chemical synthesis and in vitro testing identified two lead imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole analogs that inhibited HCV replication with EC50s of 16 nM and 31 nM, respectively. In a viral replication assay, one lead compound plus simeprevir, sofosbuvir or daclatasvir decreased HCV replication synergistically compared with the lead compound alone. Next steps include evaluating the safety of the lead compounds in combination with other antiviral agents against HCV.

Medivir AB and Johnson & Johnson market Sovriad simeprevir, an HCV N3/4A protease inhibitor, to treat HCV infection. ...