Hepion Pharmaceuticals Inc (HEPA)

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ContraVir to Advance Second-Generation Formulation of Tenofovir Exalidex (TXL™) for Treatment of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)

https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/contravir-advance-second-generation-formulation-100000884.html

EDISON, N.J., May 04, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ContraVir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CTRV), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of targeted antiviral therapies, today announced it is developing a second-generation formulation of TXL™, the Company’s proprietary liver-targeting prodrug of the antiviral agent tenofovir for treating chronic HBV.

Subsequent to the DSMB’s clearance in December 2016 for a dose escalation above 100 mg, the Company started to develop a new formulation of TXL™ to further enhance and optimize its oral delivery. This strategy is being utilized to increase the amount of TXL™ being delivered to the liver; the site of action in treatment of HBV. It is anticipated that the new formulation of TXL™ will nullify the need to explore higher doses.

“Having established proof-of-principle with our first-generation formulation, we are excited to move forward with a second-generation formulation of TXL™, one that potentially delivers greater antiviral potency per dose,” said John Sullivan-Bolyai MD, Chief Medical Officer of ContraVir. “By providing enhanced drug delivery at a lower dose, the second-generation formulation offers the potential for once daily low dosing, thereby reducing the treatment burden for hepatitis B patients. The overriding goal for the new formulation is to facilitate combination therapy; an approach that we believe represents the future of anti-HBV therapy.”

“While the advancement of a new formulation may appear to be a significant shift in our clinical development program, such a change in course is not uncommon in the biopharmaceutical industry, in which the emergence of an improved formulation of a drug candidate often represents a clear streamlined path forward for a company dedicated to improving patient care,” commented James Sapirstein, Chief Executive Officer of ContraVir. Furthermore, as we expect the future treatment of HBV to be a combination of drugs, we are positioning TXL™ in such a way to drive down dosing and reduce the overall drug burden in patients.”