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Cocrystal Pharma Selects Two Lead Antiviral Drug Candidates for its COVID-19 Oral Drug Program
Novel broad-spectrum oral lead candidates CDI-988 and CDI-873, discovered using Cocrystal’s antiviral drug discovery platform, demonstrate superior in vitro
About this update from Cocrystal Pharma, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Novel broad-spectrum oral lead candidates CDI-988 and CDI-873, discovered using Cocrystal’s antiviral drug discovery platform, demonstrate superior in vitro potency against SARS-CoV-2 and activity against all variants of concern including Omicron Clinical trials with oral program and CDI-45204 inhalation/pulmonary-delivered COVID-19 antiviral candidates expected to begin in 2022 BOTHELL, Wash., Jan. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: COCP) (“Cocrystal” or the “Company”) has selected two investigational novel antiviral drug candidates for further development as oral treatments for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. CDI-988 and CDI-873 target a highly conserved region in the active site of SARS-CoV-2 main (3CL) protease required for viral RNA replication. Cocrystal plans to initiate a first-in-human trial with one selected candidate as soon as possible this year. Although CDI-988 and CDI-873 are chemically differentiated, both exhibited superior in vitro potency against SARS-CoV-2 with activity maintained against current variants of concern including Omicron. In preclinical studies, both candidates demonstrated a favorable safety profile and pharmacokinetic properties supportive of daily oral dosing. Additionally, CDI-988 and CDI-873 were specifically designed and developed using Cocrystal’s proprietary structure-based drug discovery platform technology. “We are excited to have discovered two lead COVID-19 oral antiviral candidates that both demonstrate highly encouraging preclinical efficacy and safety data,” said Sam Lee, Cocrystal’s President and interim co-CEO. “We plan to continue evaluating both CDI-988 and CDI-873 for clinical development, while we are also rapidly advancing our inhalation/pulmonary SARS-CoV-2 lead candidate CDI-45205 toward clinical development. The objective of our multipronged strategy is to offer highly potent and safe antiviral therapeutics for hospitalized patients, as well as for those not requiring hospitalization, including for prophylactic use to provide protection to uninfected individuals who may become exposed. We expect one oral candidate in addition to our inhalation/pulmonary candidate to advance into clinical trials this year.” “Cocrystal is focused on rapidly advancing COVID-19 therapeutic candidates with multiple routes of administration. The newly emerg...