Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PRNewswire - December 18, 2002
"The integrase enzyme is a very complex protein that HIV uses to incorporate its genetic material into the human DNA," states Dr. Jocelyn Yelle, V.P. of R&D. "Because of its complexity, scientists have had a hard time finding drugs that can inhibit its function. Pharmacor's new integrase inhibitors carry the necessary pharmacophores needed to block the viral enzyme."
"Our ability to target the integrase enzyme places us among a very elite group of drug discovery companies," notes Dr. Brigitte Lebreton, President and CEO of Pharmacor. "Developing an anti-integrase drug will add a third target to the anti-HIV drug arsenal. Expanding the options available to HIV-positive patients increases the possibilities for a successful drug cocktail (HAART)." The HIV replication cycle involves a sequence of three enzymes: transcriptase, protease, and integrase. Currently there are 16 AIDS drugs on the market, ten target the reverse transcriptase enzyme and six target the protease enzyme. The advent of drug-resistant strains of the virus has created the need for new drugs that demonstrate unique resistance profiles or target novel mechanisms of action. There are no anti-integrase drugs on the market today.
Pharmacor has spent four years developing its compound library of small- molecules targeting HIV viral integrase. Three independent families of compounds are currently under investigation, the hydroxyphenyl derivatives, aromatic derivatives, and one other family of compounds with patent pending. The Company now holds a total of five patents issued by the USPTO, two patents cover two anti-integrase families of compounds and three patents cover three anti-protease families of compounds.
Pharmacor Inc. is a Montreal-based biopharmaceutical company committed to the discovery and development of innovative therapeutic agents for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. Pharmacor's robust antiviral drug pipeline consists of novel, small-molecule compounds with unique resistance profiles and novel mechanisms of action. The Company's HIV portfolio includes: novel protease inhibitors with unique resistance profiles that are in preclinical trials, and a new family of anti-HIV drugs that inhibit integrase activity. Although Pharmacor is a publicly held company, its shares are not publicly traded, nor listed on any stock exchange. For more information, please visit the company's web site at: http://www.pharmacor.com .
This news release contains forward-looking statements including technology development efforts and expectations, as well as the Company's technologies and strategies. The actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements due to numerous risks and uncertainties that exist in the Company's operations, development efforts and the business environment, including without limitation: the ability to deliver its products to corporate collaborators; the progress of product research and development activities; the ability to enter into future collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgment of Pharmacor Inc. as of the date of this release. Pharmacor Inc. disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements except to the extent required by law.
SOURCE Pharmacor Inc.
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PR021229
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