Antiviral compound against HSV-1 and HSV-2 aciclovir resistant strains

New antiviral compound against HSV-1 and HSV-2 that can be used in combination with other drugs or to treat resistant strains to conventional antivirals.

Market need: Currently, there is no cure for herpes simplex virus (HSV). First-line therapies like acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir can effectively alleviate symptoms and reduce outbreaks, although they do not eliminate the virus. These medications can also reduce viral shedding, but prolonged use, particularly in immunocompromised individuals, can lead to drug resistance. Therefore, research is underway to develop new antivirals with different mechanisms of action, potentially synergizing with existing treatments or effective against resistant HSV strains. Second-line treatments, such as cidofovir and foscarnet, are available for drug-resistant cases but have significant side effects.

Proposed solution: Given the urgent need to identify safe and effective treatments across the spectrum of HSV disease, we have developed LN-7, a novel compound targeting the nuclease activity of the HSV-1 terminase complex, which is required for viral genome packaging. This compound has been shown to be effective both in cell culture studies and in animal models (mice), emerging as a “first-in-class” antiviral drug candidate. In antiviral assays LN-7 was equally effective against acyclovir-resistant HSV-1 and HSV-2 strains, showing EC50 values of 3.2 and 3.6 µM, respectively.

Competitive advantages

The toxicity of LN-7 compound in mouse model is very low.
It shows good pharmacokinetic properties in Vero cell cultures and in rat model.
It has synergistic effects in combination with acyclovir, particularly at high doses.
It has an EC50 of 2.8 µM but is equally effective in mouse model as acyclovir.