SAN
DIEGO, June 24, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ciclofilin Pharmaceuticals
Inc. ("Ciclofilin" or the "Company"), a hepatitis B virus ("HBV") drug
developer, announced today its lead antiviral drug demonstrated
anti-fibrotic activity in a liver fibrosis animal model.
Ciclofilin's lead candidate drug, CPI-431-32, is a proprietary
cyclophilin antagonist that potently inhibits HBV. CPI-431-32 acts
primarily by inhibiting HBV's ability to hijack and utilize the host
cell protein, cyclophilin, to propagate infection. In vitro
experiments conducted in collaboration with Dr. Philippe Gallay of the
Scripps Research Institute in San Diego and with partial support of the
National Research Council (NRC) of Canada have demonstrated that
CPI-431-32 targets multiple stages of the HBV life cycle, including
viral entry into cells, replication, HBsAg production, and generation of
cccDNA.
Fibrosis is a serious consequence of chronic HBV infection and
contributes significantly to the development of cirrhosis and liver
cancer. Despite the reduction in viral load seen with current
nucleos(t)ide drug treatments, patients still remain at a high risk for
the development of liver cancer.
The Company's fibrosis study was conducted by Stelic Institute Inc.
(Tokyo, Japan). In the model, liver damage and resulting fibrosis was
induced by streptozotocin and a high fat diet. CPI-431-32 was
administered to mice for 21 days via oral gavage. Fibrosis was
assessed histologically. After 3 weeks treatment, fibrosis was reduced
by approximately 55% compared to the control group (p<0.01).
Importantly, in addition to demonstrating anti-fibrosis efficacy, the
drug was safe and well-tolerated.
"We are very encouraged with these results from the mouse model, as the
data indicate our drug has an additional mode of action beyond its
established antiviral activity," commented Dr. Robert Foster, the
Company's CEO. "Indeed, the new finding with CPI-431-32 highlights the
drug's potential to alleviate liver disease better than existing
hepatitis B drugs. In addition, we believe that many currently proposed
antiviral strategies searching for a HBV cure cannot offer an added
direct anti-fibrotic benefit similar to that seen with CPI-431-32. While
HBV elimination is the most important strategy for treating chronic
hepatitis B, the ultimate goal is to restore normal liver function and
eliminate the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer."
About Ciclofilin:
Ciclofilin is a life sciences company based in San Diego, California,
with R&D facilities in Edmonton, Canada. The company's lead drug,
CPI-431-32, is uniquely designed to specifically target the host and not
the virus. By targeting the host, CPI-431-32 interferes with the
necessary cellular components that allow HBV to persist in the liver and
cause disease. CPI-431-32 blocks HBV at multiple stages of the viral
life cycle, including virus entry and replication, and also stimulates
the immune system to attack the virus. CPI-431-32 may also reduce liver
disease through additional mechanisms independent of the antiviral
activities (liver inflammation and fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, and
hepatocellular carcinoma).
- See more at:
http://globenewswire.com/news-release/2015/06/24/747098/10139578/en/Ciclofilin-Pharmaceuticals-HBV-Drug-Demonstrates-Anti-Fibrotic-Activity.html#sthash.UAoZjLxN.dpufLabels: Ciclofilin, CPI-431-32, Research and Discoveries