COVID-19 News: HP163 Identified As Inhibitor Of Host Factor Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) That Aids Viral Replication In Zika And Possibly COVID-19
COVID-19 News: Netherlands based Hercules Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company focusing on developing small molecule inhibitors of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) for treatment of cancer and viral infections, has announced the publication of promising preclinical in-vivo trial results, showing efficacy of its Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) inhibitor HP163 against Zika virus infection and potentially against Coronavirus infections.
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The research findings were published in the journal: Nature Neuroscience
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-020-0664-0
The biopharmaceutical company has also announced that it secured new funding to test the efficacy of the compound against Covid-19 and to generate back-up AhR inhibitors.
The preclinical trial study findings reported that Hercules’ AhR inhibitor HP163 reduces viral replication in animals infected with Zika-virus and reduced microencephaly.
Additionally, in-vitro studies also showed efficacy of AhR inhibitors against Dengue, a related virus.
A preprint of another study finding on Research Square concludes that AhR inhibition may also be effective against Covid-19 and other corona virus infections via a similar mechanism.
https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-25639/v1
The initial study led by researchers from Harvard Medical School and a Brazilian scientist from a variety of research institutions and universities found that virus infection triggers AHR activation, limiting the production of type I interferons (IFN-I), involved in antiviral immunity.
Furthermore it was found that AHR activation suppressed intrinsic anti-viral immunity driven by the promyelocytic leukemia (PML) protein, resulting in increased viral replication. AHR inhibition with Hercules’ HP163 blocked Zika virus replication and ameliorated newborn microcephaly in a murine model.
The study team stressed that successful development of AhR inhibitors could lead to oral treatment of patients with early stages of virus infection.
The biopharmaceutical company will further investigate the potential of its AhR-inhibitors for treatment of Covid-19 infections and will generate additional novel AhR inhibitors for both anti-viral and cancer treatment.
In order to fund this program, Hercules has received an investment from Groningen based Pharma Connect Capital and a grant from SNN (Samenwerkingsverband Noord Nederland). As part of the investment, Hercules will relocate to Groningen.
Dr Bart Wuurman, CEO of Hercules Pharmaceuticals, told Thailand Medical News, “We are excited by the novel finding that the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor acts as a host factor for viral infections to allow viral replication. A remedy is urgently needed to treat zika and dengue infection, but mentioned studies also suggest that AhR inhibitors might be an effective oral treatment of patients with Covid-19, the virus which is holding our daily life hostage at this moment.
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The study team is also planning further vivo studies using animal models before proceeding to actual human trials which are expected before the end of the year.
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