ContraVir Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:CTRV) will present a poster on a Phase 1 single ascending dose study of its drug candidate, CRV431, at the International Liver Congress, taking place in Vienna, Austria from April 10-to-14, 2019.
CRV431 is a clinical stage cycliphilin inhibitor. Its primary biochemical action is inhibition of cyclophilin isomerase activity, which is known to play a key role in protein folding.
In non-clinical models of NASH, CRV431 reduced fibrosis scores and hepatocellular carcinoma tumor burden. In addition, CRV431 also has shown activity against certain viruses, including hepatitis B (HBV) and C, and HIV-1.
In addition, CRV431 has demonstrated an ability to reduce multiple markers of HBV infection, including reductions in DNA, HBsAg, HBeAg, and HBV uptake by liver cells. These multiple modes of action may play an important role in the overall treatment of liver disease, from triggering events through to end-stage liver disease, the company said in a statement.
Dr. Daren Ure, director of R&D for ContraVir, will present a study where subjects were treated with escalating doses of CRV431 administered as a single dose to assess safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic profiles.
Robert Foster, CEO, said the poster presentation forms the basis of ContraVir’s continued development of CRV431, a promising therapeutic candidate for hepatitis B and liver disease.
