$COCP Cocrystal Pharma Highlights Publication By Collaborators Of Positive Data Demonstrating Potent In Vitro Inhibition Against Coronavirus In Science Translational Medicine Journal
8:12 am ET August 4, 2020 (Benzinga) Print
– Cocrystal has two exclusive licenses for the coronavirus protease inhibitors described in the publication –
– Cocrystal is currently further conducting preclinical studies of these coronavirus protease inhibitors (3CL) –
BOTHELL, WA, Aug. 04, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cocrystal Pharma, Inc.(NASDAQ:COCP), ("Cocrystal" or the "Company"),a clinical stage biotechnologycompany discoveringand developingnovel antiviral therapeutics, today announced the publication of preclinical animal studies of coronavirus antiviral compounds in the renowned medical journal, Science Translational Medicine.
The manuscript titled, "The 3C-like protease inhibitors with potent in-vitro inhibition against SARS-CoV-2 and therapeutic efficacy in MERS-CoV infected mice," was published online in the 3 August 2020 Science Translational Medicine Journal. Authors of the published manuscript were Athri D. Rathnayake, Jian Zheng, Yunjeong Kim, Krishani Dinali Perera, Samantha Mackin, David Meyerholz, Maithri M. Kashipathy, Kevin P. Battaile, Scott Lovell, Stanley Perlman, William C. Groutas, Kyeong-Ok Chang.
Data presented in the publication is included in the Company's two exclusive license agreements with Kansas State University Research Foundation ("KSURF") for new coronavirus antiviral compounds with novel mechanism of action.
"Our license agreement with KSURF has continued to exhibit the potential and broad utility of our platform to address the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic. To have this compelling data included in the prestigious publication, Science Translational Medicine, is a testament to the potential of these inhibitors to treat COVID-19. The publication supports the quality and importance of the work performed by the group of co-authors," commented Dr. Gary Wilcox, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cocrystal.
Under the license agreements with KSURF, Cocrystal has been granted an exclusive, royalty-bearing right and license to certain antiviral compounds for humans and small molecule therapeutic inhibitors against coronaviruses, picornaviruses and caliciviruses covered by patent rights controlled by KSURF. Cocrystal intends to continue development of these antiviral compounds for coronavirus. These licenses significantly expand and further advance the Company's COVID-19 program by providing more targeted and potent compounds.
"We are incredibly enthusiastic with the positive preclinical data and the solid foundation we believe these inhibitors provide for advancing development of SARS-CoV-2 treatment," added Dr. Sam Lee, President of Cocrystal. "The potent activity and the effectiveness of the mechanism of action demonstrated by these coronavirus protease inhibitors is very encouraging. Of utmost interest was the activity seen from a select number of compounds in the study series which were shown to be effective in vitro against SARS-CoV-2. In addition, we continue applying our proprietary platform technology to further optimize properties of lead molecules and are also exploring multiple routes of administration of these COVID-19 antivirals. These findings bolster our belief in the broad-spectrum capabilities and demonstrated proof-of-concept therapeutic efficacy of these inhibitors against human and animal coronaviruses."
Cocrystal initiated its preclinical studies of COVID-19 inhibitors received from KSURF during Q2 2020. The Company has also recently identified additional inhibitors using its proprietary platform technology and anticipates the selection of its lead preclinical molecule by year end.
About Science Translational Medicine
Science Translational Medicine is a weekly journal devoted to research and issues of strong interest to the translational medicine community. Translational medicine topics suitable for submission include any original research findings, discussions or analyses that move the field closer to the goal of improving human health, or the diagnosis and treatment of disease.
Science Translational Medicinepublishes original, peer-reviewed, science-based research articles that report successful advances toward the goal of improving patients' lives. The editors and an international advisory group of scientists and clinician-scientists as well as other experts holdScience Translational Medicinearticles to the same high-quality standard that is the hallmark of the journal Science.
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