ContraVir Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:CTRV) CRV431 data from an experimental model of hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been published in the peer-reviewed journal, PLOS ONE.
The article describes a study where HBV transgenic mice were treated with CRV431, a cyclophilin inhibitor; and/or tenofovir exalidex (TXL), a nucleotide prodrug.
“The research article reports our discovery that CRV431 greatly reduces HBV DNA in the liver of transgenic mice in a dose-dependent manner,” Dr. Robert Foster, ContraVir’s CEO, said in a statement.
The lowest and highest doses of CRV431 reduced HBV DNA levels by 13% and 91%, respectively, compared to the vehicle group.
“CRV431 interferes with the way that HBV hijacks our body’s molecules to amplify virus replication, which is distinct from traditional antiviral drugs such as tenofovir that bind only to HBV proteins. Additionally, CRV431 reduced serum levels of HBsAg, an important prognostic indicator, which is typically not decreased by nucleotide drugs,” he added.
TXL also decreased liver HBV DNA levels dose-dependently: the lowest and highest doses of TXL reduced HBV DNA levels by 55% and 97%, respectively, compared to the vehicle group.
In mice that were co-dosed with the lowest tested doses of CRV431 and TXL, liver HBV DNA decreased by 80% compared to the vehicle group.
“This study suggests that CRV431 and tenofovir can be used in combination to significantly decrease HBV DNA levels in the liver, and we are conducting further studies to elucidate CRV431’s mechanism of action,” said Dr. Foster.
The research article, entitled “The Cyclophilin Inhibitor CRV431 Inhibits Liver HBV DNA and HBsAg in Transgenic Mice,” is available here.
