First Candidate From SCYNEXIS' Novel Cyclophilin Inhibitor Platform, SCY-635, Establishes Proof Of Concept In HCV-Infected Adults

Main Category: Liver Disease / Hepatitis
Article Date: 12 Jan 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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Drug discovery company, SCYNEXIS, Inc., announced top-line results from a Phase 1b randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of its lead oral antiviral drug candidate, SCY-635, in adult patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection. Treatment with SCY-635 was well tolerated and produced a clinically relevant reduction in plasma HCV RNA. Full results of the study will be presented in 2009. SCY-635, a cyclophilin inhibitor, represents a new class of drugs for the treatment of HCV infection and is the first candidate from a broad platform of proprietary cyclophilin inhibitors developed by SCYNEXIS.

"These data are very encouraging, demonstrating the therapeutic potential of SCY-635 in patients with HCV as well as validating our core discovery platform which is focused on developing cyclophilin inhibitors for multiple diseases, including serious viral diseases, central nervous system disorders and autoimmune diseases," commented Dr. Yves Ribeill, President and Chief Executive Officer of SCYNEXIS. "Based on these promising results, we are actively planning the clinical and regulatory path forward for the development of SCY-635 and will continue to advance additional novel candidates from the platform for other therapeutic indications."

About the Clinical Trial

The clinical study was conducted as a Phase 1b, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-dose study in adult volunteers with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C infection. SCY-635 was given as an oral capsule for 15 consecutive days.

About SCY-635 and SCYNEXIS' Cyclophilin Inhibitor Platform

SCY-635 represents a new class of therapeutic agents for the treatment of HCV infection. SCY-635 is the first candidate in a novel class of non-immunosuppressive cyclophilin inhibitors owned by SCYNEXIS. Cyclophilins are a family of enzymatic proteins that assist in the folding and transport of other proteins synthesized within a cell. Cyclophilin inhibitors, such as Cyclosporine A, have been used for decades for the prophylaxis of organ rejection in transplant patients. Scientists at SCYNEXIS have synthesized derivatives of Cyclosporine A in which cyclophilin binding activity is separated from calcineurin binding activity (which mediates immunosuppression). A growing body of scientific evidence indicates that non-immunosuppressive analogs of Cyclosporine A may have applications in multiple therapeutic areas. Cyclophilins play a central role in the pathophysiology of chronic viral infection, neurodegenerative diseases and malignant transformation. Cyclophilin inhibition therefore represents an attractive target for drug discovery and development.

About SCYNEXIS

SCYNEXIS is a premier drug discovery and development company delivering effective and innovative drug pipeline solutions to pharmaceutical and global health partners. The Company, which is located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, is also focused on developing a proprietary internal pipeline based on cyclophilin inhibitors, a class of drugs that hold significant potential for the treatment of a broad range of diseases.

SCYNEXIS