Atriva Therapeutics GmbH
Atriva Therapeutics Starts Clinical Development of Novel Host-Targeting Antiviral ATR-002 Against Influenza
DGAP-News: Atriva Therapeutics GmbH / Key word(s): Study Atriva Therapeutics Starts Clinical Development of Novel – Phase I clinical trial to evaluate safety and tolerability of ATR-002 in healthy volunteers – ATR-002 expected to show high resilience to viral resistance and prolonged treatment window – Novel approach to treating influenza, one of the most prominent global health challenges, according to WHO – Atriva Therapeutics to present at BioEquity in Barcelona on May 20, 2019 Tübingen (Germany), May 16, 2019 – Atriva Therapeutics GmbH, a biopharmaceutical company pioneering the development of host-targeting antiviral therapies, today announced the first dosing of its lead drug candidate ATR-002 in a Phase I clinical trial (EudraCT 2019-000784-25). The dosing marks the start of the clinical development of this novel host-targeted approach to treating influenza virus infections. The randomized, double blind dose escalation study, now running in Belgium, will assess the safety and tolerability of ATR-002 in 60 healthy volunteers, randomized into three arms. ATR-002 is a first-in-class MEK inhibitor of viral replication, targeting a fundamental host-cellular protein in the replication pathway of influenza-causing viruses. MEK inhibitors have shown high potential as efficacious antiviral drugs, which address the need for a novel, broadly active, resistance-avoiding influenza therapy. Potential advantages of this host-targeting approach are the reduced potential to viral resistance and the prolonged treatment window, both compared to therapies that directly target viral structures. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), influenza remains a global challenge for public health with an estimated one billion people affected every year, of which three to five million cases are considered severe. In particular, fatalities are high with 290,000 to 650,000 influenza-related respiratory deaths worldwide.[1] “As of today, there is a high unmet medical need for an efficient, safe influenza therapy to treat acute disease patients,” commented Dr. Rainer Lichtenberger, co-founder and CEO of Atriva. “Novel flu virus strains are emerging every year, and antiviral approaches based on small-molecules are often associated with the development of resistances and a short treatment window.” [2] “The successful filing of a Clinical Trial Application in Europe followed by the start of the first-in-human clinical trial for ATR-002 are significant milestones for our Company. Today’s news brings us to the doorstep of demonstrating clinical proof-of-concept for ATR-002 as a potential first-in-class, once-daily oral influenza therapy,” added Prof. Dr. Oliver Planz, co-founder and CSO of Atriva. Preclinical data showed that an oral application of ATR-002 leads to the rapid and long-lasting inhibition of the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway and consequently, inhibition of reproduction of virus particles in the body. Compared to standard of care, absence of resistance formation and a longer treatment window were observed. Most currently approved drugs show efficacy only when administered within 48 hours after the onset of acute disease. Often, patients are not eligible for these drugs or do not respond to therapy due to a delayed diagnosis. ______________________________________
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About ATR-002’s mode of action About Atriva Therapeutics GmbH For further information, please visit www.atriva-therapeutics.com.
[1] Global influenza strategy 2019-2030. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2019. [2] Guidance for Industry Influenza: Developing Drugs for Treatment and/or Prophylaxis. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER); 2011.
16.05.2019 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP – a service of EQS Group AG. |