Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1995. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PR Newswire - 15 December 1995
PC1323 is an isomer of ProCyte's BCDS-copper compound, which the company has been studying for its antiviral effects. An isomer is a different structure of a compound that contains the same formula or components.
Both BCDS-copper and the PC1323 isomer were shown in vitro to block the release of hepatitis B virus from infected cells without impacting the DNA of the virus. This finding suggests that the inhibition of the hepatitis B virus by PC1323 involves a different stage of viral infection, such as the interaction between the virus and other components of its host cell.
ProCyte scientists and collaborators at several academic virology laboratories have shown that hepatitis B viral inhibition with the BCDS family of compounds results from some process other than the more commonly studied route of DNA replication.
To date, the primary targets in hepatitis B virus drug development have involved the inhibition of DNA replication by nuceloside analogs. The inhibition of hepatitis B virus and certain other disease-causing viruses by ProCyte's family of copper-based complexes is dependent upon the compounds' interference with other events in the infection process, most probably the interaction between the virus and the cellular membrane.
"We are continuing to find that this family of proprietary compounds appears to inhibit specific disease-causing viruses relative to the outer core, or envelope, of the virus," said Branca. "Based on findings obtained to date, ProCyte's antiviral compounds are believed to be working by means of several mechanisms dependent on the virus type. For certain viruses, such as hepatitis B, they appear to inhibit the spread of the virus by preventing the virus' ability to be released once it is inside the cell."
In the presentation made this week in Hawaii at the First International Conference on Therapies for Viral Hepatitis, Branca further disclosed new data regarding the anti-HIV effect of BCDS-copper complexes on interference with the early events in the infection process, before the virus can enter the cell, which then interrupts the virus life cycle.
ProCyte Corporation is a healthcare company that is developing copper-based compounds for therapeutic indications. Additionally, the company is pursuing commercialization of its proprietary wound care products. ProCyte is located in Kirkland, Washington.
CONTACT: Karen L. Hedine, Vice President, or Dr. Andrew Branca, Principal Scientist, 206-820-4548, both of ProCyte/ 08:30 EST
Copyright (c) 1995/PR NewsWire. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Permissions Desk, PR Newswire, 810 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019.
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