ARCA Biopharma Inc (ABIO)

[Dina]

http://www.enetmd.com/content/filoviruses

Treatment
Conceptually, therapy of EHF and MHF consists of specific antiviral approaches, modulation of the host immune response, and symptomatic treatment. Currently, no specific antiviral therapy is available. The guanosin analogue ribavirin is not effective against filoviruses. Prophylactic treatment of EBOV infection in nonhuman primates with high doses of either polyclonal immune serum, a potent neutralizing human monoclonal antibody (50?mg/kg), or IFN-a2b (2 × 107 IU/kg per day) delayed time to death but did not reduce mortality. In contrast, modulation of the coagulation/inflammation cascade showed some promising results. Treatment with recombinant human activated protein C (continuous perfusion of 48?µg/kg per h drotrecogin-a, on days 0–7) resulted in 18.2% survival and a prolonged time-to-death. Similarly, treatment of nonhuman primates with the recombinant nematode anticoagulant protein c2 (rNAPc2), a potent inhibitor of FVIIa/tissue factor-initiated blood coagulation, by subcutaneous injections of 30?µg/kg bodyweight, administered once daily for up to 14?days after a high-dose lethal injection of Ebola virus, resulted in a 33% survival rate and prolonged survival time. The molecule is being developed as an anticoagulant by ARCA Biopharma, Colorado, United States of America.