Drug Developers Form Partnership to Expedite the Clinical Trial Process

A strategic partnership has been formed to expedite initiation and conduct of human clinical trials to evaluate a series of novel drugs for treatment of chronic diseases such as AIDS (HIV), hepatitis (HCV), herpes, and cancer.

The drugs will be provided by Arisyn Therapeutics, Inc. (Fredericksburg, MD, USA), which recently acquired them from their discoverer. Arisyn is a privately held biotechnology company focused on the clinical development of small molecule therapeutics for infectious diseases and cancer.

The shepherd that will guide the drugs through the maze of clinical trials and regulatory approvals is ImQuest BioSciences (Fredericksburg, MD, USA). ImQuest is a leading provider of anti-infective therapeutic and microbicide development and anticancer services to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry.

The joint project begins with the lead molecules from the portfolio already having been evaluated in phase 1 human clinical trials for the treatment of HIV and cancer. Furthermore, an Investigational New Drug- (IND)-application has been prepared for submission to the [U.S.] Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) to initiate trials for HCV therapy.

"The Arisyn compounds represent an entirely new treatment paradigm by effectively suppressing the ability of the HIV- or HCV-infected cells to act as the factories of progeny virus production," said Dr. Robert W. Buckheit, Jr., president and CSO of ImQuest BioSciences. "The compounds have proven efficacy and safety in preclinical studies, and their successful development will be of immense benefit to the millions of individuals living with HIV and HCV infection."

"This partnership is an important step in the development of our portfolio," said Eric Zucco, president of Arisyn. "ImQuest BioSciences brings a broad range of expertise and a wealth of experience to Arisyn. After years of preclinical evaluations, we now look to Imquest BioSciences to guide these compounds into and through human clinical trials."

Related Links:
Arisyn Therapeutics
ImQuest BioSciences