Innovation wanted to bring to the attention of shareholders a recent review article that supports defensins as a source of potential therapeutics against viral infections.
Solanki SS, Singh P, Kashyap P, Sansi MS, Ali SA. “Promising role of defensins peptides as therapeutics to combat against viral infection.” Microb Pathog. 2021 Apr 29:104930. doi: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.104930. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33933603.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0882401021002023
As the article conveys, newer mechanistic insights are elucidating the intrinsic and multi-faceted abilities of defensins—a type of small antimicrobial peptide—to confer protection against many types of viruses.
Brilacidin, a defensin-mimetic designed and optimized to capture the biological properties of naturally occurring defensins, was highlighted in the article:
“Bio-computational designed Brilacidin is a synthetic non-peptide defensin mimic drug that destabilises the viral membrane by its amphipathic & hydrophobic nature, and its immunomodulatory property influence the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α cytokines, and cAMP& PDE4/PDE3 pathways which are associated with bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory effects of COVID-19 disease. The smaller size, more effective antimicrobial activity, bioavailability, low enzymatic degradation and toxicity, natural and low-cost production make the Brilacidin a most potent drug against SARS-CoV-2 than the known antiviral drugs.”
With enrollment in the Company’s Phase 2 trial of Brilacidin for treatment of COVID-19 proceeding toward completion and release of topline results, testing of Brilacidin at independent labs against multiple viruses is ongoing. Brilacidin has now been evaluated in vitro in 10 separate human cell lines, showing consistent and potent inhibition against coronaviruses, alphaviruses and, most recently, bunyaviruses.
Brilacidin lab results against alphaviruses are to be provided, this July, in an Oral Presentation at the American Society of Virology’s 2021 annual conference. Brilacidin lab results in Human Coronaviruses (H-CoVs) (OC43, 229E, NL63) are being prepared for peer-review submission.
Forward-Looking Statements: This alert contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including statements concerning future drug development plans, statements regarding the antiviral capabilities and therapeutic potential of Brilacidin and its impact on SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and other viruses, as well as obtaining government regulatory approvals to commence clinical testing. Other statements regarding future product developments, and markets, including with respect to specific indications, and any other statements which are other than statements of historical fact. These statements involve risks but not limited to risks related to conducting pre-clinical studies and clinical trials and seeking regulatory and licensing approvals for Brilacidin and Kevetrin in the US and other jurisdictions; that prior test results may not be replicated in future studies and trials, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause the Company’s actual results and experience to differ materially from anticipated results and expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. The Company has in some cases identified forward-looking statements by using words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “estimates,” “looks,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “goal,” “potential,” “may,” “suggest,” and similar expressions. Among other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements are the Company’s need for, and the availability of, substantial capital in the future to fund its operations and research and development; including the amount and timing of the sale of shares of common stock under securities purchase agreements; the fact that the Company’s licensee(s) may not successfully complete pre-clinical or clinical testing and the Company will not receive milestone payments, or the fact that the Company’s compounds may not successfully complete pre-clinical or clinical testing, or be granted regulatory approval to be sold and marketed in the United States or elsewhere. A more complete description of these risk factors is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to any such forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by applicable law or regulation.
