- Presentation on Thursday, May 10 at 11:15 AM PDT -
ATLANTA, GA and BOTHELL, WA, May 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: COCP), (“Cocrystal” or the “Company”), a clinical stage biotechnology company discovering and developing novel antiviral therapeutics that target the replication machinery of hepatitis viruses, influenza viruses and noroviruses, announced today that Sam Lee, Ph.D., President of Cocrystal, will present at the Fred Hutch and Merck Infectious Disease Summit taking place today, Thursday, May 10, 2018 in Seattle, WA.
Dr. Lee will present an overview of the Company’s unique structure-based drug discovery technology and Nobel Prize winning expertise to create first- and best-in-class antiviral drugs, in a presentation entitled, “Discovery of Potent, Highly Selective, Broad Spectrum Antivirals,” at 11:15 AM PDT.
As part of his presentation, Dr. Lee will discuss Cocrystal’s lead product in development, CC-31244, an investigational, oral, potent, broad-spectrum replication inhibitor with high barrier to drug resistance. It was designed and developed using the Company's proprietary structure-based drug discovery technology and is currently being evaluated for the treatment of hepatitis C.
Cocrystal previously announced positive data from its Phase 1a/1b trial of CC-31244 for the treatment of chronic HCV infection. The Phase 1a/1b trial was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study evaluating single and multiple ascending doses of CC-31244 for safety/tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and antiviral activity in HCV-infected patients. In Phase 1a, 30 healthy volunteers received single doses (20-400 mg) of CC-31244, and 12 healthy volunteers received repeated doses of CC-31244 (either 200 or 400 mg) for 7 days. In Phase 1b, 15 patients with HCV genotype-1 infection received CC-31244 for 7 days (6, 400 mg daily; 6, 600 mg daily; 3, 200 mg twice daily). Cocrystal plans to commence patient dosing in the Phase 2a study of CC-31244 during this quarter. The Company’s overall goal with CC-31244 is to advance the therapy of hepatitis C with ultra-short treatments.
Additionally, Dr. Lee will provide an overview of Cocrystal’s novel, broad spectrum influenza antivirals that are specifically designed to address the unmet medical need of being effective against all strains of the influenza virus. Cocrystal’s uniquely developed lead molecules target the influenza polymerase, an essential replication enzyme, with several highly conserved regions common to all influenza strains, enabling the inhibitors to be active against all strains of the influenza virus including pandemic and Tamiflu-resistant strains.
CC-42344 is a highly potent PB2 inhibitor and shows a favorable pharmacokinetic and safety profile. CC-42344 is currently being evaluated in preclinical IND-enabling studies for the broad-spectrum treatment of influenza and the Company expects to initiate a Phase 1 study in the fourth quarter of 2018.
To access Dr. Lee’s presentation, please click here.
About Cocrystal Pharma, Inc.
Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. is a clinical stage biotechnology company discovering and developing novel antiviral therapeutics that target the replication machinery of hepatitis viruses, influenza viruses, and noroviruses. Cocrystal employs unique structure-based technologies and Nobel Prize winning expertise to create first- and best-in-class antiviral drugs. CC-31244 is a Phase 2a ready broad-spectrum novel non-nucleoside replication inhibitor of HCV. Phase 1b studies in HCV infected patients showed the largest reduction in viral load of any non-nucleoside inhibitor tested to date. The next step for CC-31244 is clinical trials as part of a cocktail for ultra-short therapy of 2 to 4 weeks. The lead candidate for influenza has advanced to IND-enabling studies. It is effective in animal models against both the pandemic and seasonal strains of influenza. In addition, the Company has a pipeline of promising early preclinical programs. Two private investors own approximately 54% of the Company. Corporate investors include OPKO Health, Inc., Brace Pharma Capital, LLC and Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries, Ltd. For further information about Cocrystal, please visit www.cocrystalpharma.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements including our expectations regarding the results from the Phase 2a study and our clinical results from our pipeline of other products. The words "believe," "may," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "should," "plan," "could," "target," "potential," "is likely," "will," "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events. Some or all of the events anticipated by these forward-looking statements may not occur. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include the availability of products manufactured by third parties, the ability of the clinical research company conducting the Phase 2a study to recruit subjects and obtaining regulatory approval for our planned Phase 1 study. Further information on our risk factors is contained in our filings with the SEC, including our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and our prospectus supplement dated April 30, 2018. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.