Corporate | 8 May 2007 10:00
Planegg-Martinsried, Germany, 08 May 2007 – The Martinsried-based drug discovery and development company 4SC AG (Frankfurt, Prime Standard: VSC) announced together with the Institute for Molecular Virology at the University of Munster today that an important milestone in the development of a new drug for the treatment of influenza virus infections has been reached.
Thanks to the cooperation, which was started as early as April 2006, the researchers of 4SC AG and the scientists of the University of Munster were able to show that mice infected with highly pathogenic bird flu viruses can effectively be healed using 4SC’s drug candidate SC75741.
As the cooperation continues, SC75741 and related substances are now to be advanced a step further in the development process to create a suitable drug candidate for clinical development. It is the goal to introduce such a drug to the market as a highly efficacious medication for the treatment of highly pathogenic influenza virus infections.
‘We are delighted that we have achieved this important milestone. It provides us with the opportunity to create a completely new therapeutic principle for the treatment of life-threatening influenza virus infections,’ commented Daniel Vitt, CSO of 4SC AG.
After successfully providing the preclinical proof of concept, 4SC AG is now holding initial talks with possible development partners from the pharmaceutical industry. Due to the high public interest in pandemia prevention, 4SC AG is also in dialogue with different government organisations in Europe and US.
About SC75741
The drug candidate SC75741 was developed by 4SC AG as part of its NFkB project. Because of its mechanism of action, the substance prevents the multiplication of influenza viruses, including the highly pathogenic H5N1 and H7N7 strains, and consequently the infection of further cells. In addition, the release of cytokines is also dramatically reduced by the administration of SC75741. This combined active principle against the viral multiplication on the one hand, and the dangerous release of significant quantities of cytokines (also called ‘cytokine storm’) on the other hand allows a double effect in the fight against highly pathogenic influenza virus infections.
About the Institute of Molecular Virology of the University of Münster
Research at the Institute of Molecular Virology focuses on intracellular signal transduction pathways and their impact on viral infection and inflammation. The virological research is mainly focussed on influenza viruses, which still represent a serious problem worldwide. Aim of the work is – via gathering knowledge about the cellular processes which control virus replication – to learn more about viral reproduction strategies and to eventually find new targets for an antiviral intervention on the basis of cellular components. Another research focus of the institute are signalling pathways involved in inflammatory responses. This includes not only the molecular analysis of pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and signalling mechanisms during the acute-phase response, but also the analysis of signalling pathways during inflammatory activation of the endothelium – an essential step during the onset of inflammatory processes.
About 4SC AG
4SC AG (ISIN DE0005753818) has been listed in the Prime Standard of Frankfurt Stock Exchange since 15 December 2005. Founded in 1997 and now with a staff of 59, the company develops novel drug candidates for inflammatory diseases and cancer using a cheminformatics based technology platform. Traditional high throughput screening of therapeutic agents has been transferred from the lab to the computer. Thus, the company offers substantial cost and time advantages as well as increased success rates in drug development. 4SC AG uses its patented technology platform to create a sustainable product pipeline for active agents that are developed in early clinical phases (‘proof of concept’) and subsequently result in upfront and milestone payments as well as participation in sales generated by out-licensed products to the pharmaceutical industry. There are currently six projects in the pipeline. The first project on the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is currently undergoing clinical phase IIa. Four other product candidates are in preclinical development and another project is in the research stage. Furthermore, the company has its technology platform in co-operation projects with biotech and pharma companies and is already generating initial revenues.
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