Introduction:
The hottest field in antivirals is hepatitis C virus (HCV)
drug development; compounds against novel HCV targets such as NS3/4A protease,
NS5B polymerase, and NS5A hold the promise of revolutionizing the treatment of
this disease. Targeted antivirals have been enormously successful for human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and include life-saving blockbusters such as
Truvada, Atripla, Kaletra, and Reyataz. The HIV pharmacopeia has expanded from
drugs that target reverse transcriptase and protease to include inhibitors of
CCR5, integrase, and viral fusion. Most HIV drug development is for existing
targets, but companies are also investigating novel targets such as viral
maturation.
Questions Answered in This Report:
*
Although no HCV-specific antiviral agents have reached the
market, the HCV development pipeline is robust and includes mainly HCV-specific
antiviral agents.
Which are the most promising classes for discovery and
development of novel targeted HCV drugs? Which development compounds are the
most advanced? What companies are involved in HCV antiviral drug development?
*
The current HIV pharmacopoeia is rich with drugs that are
effective and relatively well tolerated
. What novel target classes show the
most promise? What strategies can developers use to gain a competitive
advantage? What new technologies may offer new approaches to treating HIV
infections?
*
Although most development activity is directed at HCV and HIV,
other commercial opportunities are available in antivirals.
Which diseases
offer the potential for the development of novel classes of agents? How can new
technologies create new opportunities for antivirals? What companies are
developing new antiviral technologies?
*
Researchers are applying RNA-based therapy technologies,
including RNA interference (RNAi), to the development of novel antivirals.
Which
companies are developing RNA and RNAi-based antivirals? Which RNA-based
technologies are the most advanced in development? Which diseases are likely to
benefit from RNAi-based drugs?
*
Many drugs in the current pipeline originated at biotech
companies.
Which companies are currently conducting innovative antivirals
research? (See our comprehensive listing.) What kind of dealmaking has Big
Pharma engaged in to tap these early-stage endeavors?Scope:
Current antiviral drug classes and targets: interferons
(IFNs), pegylated IFNs, nucleoside analogues, nucleoside/nucleotide reverse
transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), nucleoside
polymerase inhibitors, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors
(NNRTIs), protease inhibitors, CCR5 inhibitors, fusion inhibitors, integrase
inhibitors, neuraminidase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs).
Hepatitis C virus (HCV): virus and disease, current
treatment, novel drug targets, development compounds, companies.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): virus and disease,
current treatment, novel drug targets, development compounds, companies.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): virus and disease,
current treatment, novel drug targets, development compounds, companies.
Outlook for antiviral drug discovery and
development—targeted antivirals, HIV, HCV, RSV, herpes virus, and influenza
virus: virus and disease, current treatment, novel drug targets,
development compounds, companies.