HEPATITIS C
Hepatitis C (HCV) – the virus and market
HCV Hepatitis C causes chronic liver disease, with 170 million people believed to be infected globally. The current treatment for HCV Hepatitis C (pegylated interferon + ribavirin) has a poor side effect profile and is only effective in around 50% of patients. As with HIV/AIDS, multiple drugs in combination therapy are likely to be needed to overcome drug resistance. The value of the HCV Hepatitis C market was over $2 billion in 2005 and is forecast to grow substantially, to $5-7 billion in the next 3-6 years.
Arrow's HCV Hepatitis C programmes
Novel Antiviral Target: Arrow's leading HCV Hepatitis C programmes are focussed on a virus encoded protein called NS5a. Arrow has selected this target as:
- it is essential for virus RNA production,
- it lacks any homologue in the human genome (indicating the possibility of a very safe mechanism) and
- it is well conserved across HCV genotypes (in the region where our compounds bind).
NS5a programme
AZD2836: Originating from Arrow's focused chemical library and optimised in-house, AZD2836 (A-831) has shown potent activity in the replicon assay and has an excellent therapeutic index and good pharmacokinetic properties, as well as displaying a novel mechanism of action targeting the NS5a protein. Phase I trials on the compound were initiated in Q4 2006.
AZD7295: This compound from Arrow's second series of NS5a inhibitors began a Phase I study in Q1 2008. AZD7295 (A-689) has a completely different chemical structure to AZD2836 and binds to the NS5a target at a different site.
HCV Polymerase
Compounds from Arrow's HCV Polymerase programme are currently at lead optimisation stage.
PRODUCT PIPELINE
HCV Focus27 November 2006 - Arrow's HCV compound enters Phase I Arrow announced that its lead Hepatitis C compound (AZD2836) has entered Phase I trials |
| site by uc4 | site map | legal | privacy |