Canopus has carried out an extensive in vitro programme to evaluate and screen a large number of compounds against Hepatitis C. Both the replicon assay and BVDV models were utilised to identify the lead candidate compounds, which have been coded CB5300, CB2029, CB2030 and CB2009.
These Hepatitis C drug candidates interact with the host cell rather than the virus (unlike conventional Hepatitis C antivirals), minimising the risk of drug resistance.
Canopus has a Phase IIa proof of principle trial ongoing in the USA with CB5300. The second phase of this study will evaluate the combination therapy of CB5300 and the well known statin, fluvastatin. This study will be carried out at the Brooke Army Medical Centre in Texas.
The Hepatitis C market size is expected to reach $4.5 billion between the USA and Europe alone by the year 2017. Hepatitis C infection is a serious worldwide health threat for which novel therapies are urgently required. Canopus believes CB5300 to be an effective and rapid solution to this problem.
Canopus has international patents pending relating to the use of CB5300 alone or in combination with other compounds including a statin, to treat flaviviruses-including Hepatitis C and Dengue Fever. This application will be entered into the national phase in 2010.