|
|
| |
 |
New Antiviral Drug Discovery to Combat Influenza Virus |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
 |
Obio Pharmaceutical Announced
New Antiviral Drug Discovery to Combat Influenza Virus
(Hong Kong, February 9, 2009) — Obio Pharmaceutical Holdings Ltd (“Obio”/
“the Company”) announced the discovery of a new indication of a drug, TG21, against
main strains of influenza virus (including avian and human influenza strains) such as H3N2
and H5N1. The process leading to clinical trials for TG21 has already commenced.
“Obio has and will continue to engage prestigious institutions in USA and China
to conduct various researches, all of which have endorsed that TG21 has antiviral effect
towards a wide spectrum of influenza virus. Testing on chick embryo, chick, and mice are
conducted. The finding indicated TG21 can increase the survival rate and decrease the
amount of virus of animals challenged by Avian Influenza virus H5N1. TG21 possesses a
complete safety profile as the active ingredient of the compound is already a drug
approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and EU European Medicines
Agency (EMA) for chronic use to treat a rare disease, and there are no serious side effects
recorded.” Dr. Bill Piu Chan said.
After years of study to prove the efficacy of TG21 in tackling influenza virus,
scientists are still investigating the basic mechanism of TG21. However, it is certain that TG21
works on a different mechanism to that of both Tamiflu TM and Relenza TM. The two readily
available drugs are Neuraminidase Inhibitors that prevent the virus from spreading to other
cells. Both of them have similar antiviral mechanisms towards influenza virus.
Delivered in pills, Tamiflu TM and the inhaler drug-Relenza TM Relenza TM are the
only drugs suggested by US FDA and World Health Organization for treating and preventing
avian flu infection at present. However, cases of resistance to the mainstream medical
intervention- Tamiflu TM are on the rise as shown in reports by U.S. Center of Disease Control
and Prevention and the EU-Supported Network for Vigilance against Viral Resistance.
Question in potential effectiveness of the widely-used and governments-markedly-stockpiled weapon may create immediate demand for a different antiviral solution to prepare for possible highly pandemic threat.
According to official statistics of World Health Organization, a total of 404
laboratory-confirmed human cases of Avian Influenza A/ (H5N1) with a mortality rate of
62.8% have been reported up to 2 February 2009. In case of pandemic outbreak, swift
production process of TG21 can expedite output to meet the global needs as it is a
synthetic chemical compound, which can be synthesized without the issue of shortage of
raw materials. Technically, TG21 can be produced in mass volume within a relatively short
period of time. The orally administered drug TG21 also offers critical advantage in intake
convenience.
Apart from the bird flu threat, TG21 will also render as an alternative solution to
the seasonal flu that bother countries around the world by saving lives and reducing
hospitalization rate.
A US Patent Attorney is engaged to conduct a patentability report for TG21.
Application of patents has been filed on TG21’s anti-viral effect and pending approval. As
a company focused on research for proprietary patented drugs, Obio is preparing the
application for a fast track status to accelerate drug registration given the needs of
effective treatment for lethal influenza viruses are unmet, and actively negotiating
collaboration with large pharmaceuticals companies to produce the drug.
About Obio Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited
Obio is a Hong Kong-based international pharmaceutical company. Obio targets to
research, develop and commercialize novel medicines for the underserved diseases
affecting millions of patients worldwide. Obio is a knowledge-based, technology driven
pharmaceutical company, dedicated to the research and development of novel drugs,
and bringing them into the market through co-development with other prestigious
pharmaceutical companies. Obio’s research center is located at Beijing and researches
are often contracted to outside prestigious medical institutes for confirmation of experiment
data.
Details please refer to www.obiopharma.com.
For more information, please contact
JOVIAN Financial Communications Ltd
Angel Y Y Yeung / Alice Choi
Tel： +852 2154 7898 Fax: +852 2854 2012
Email: alice.choi@joviancomm.com / angel.yeung@joviancomm.com
|
|
 |
|
|
|
