Novel Hapatatis C Virus NS3 serine protease inhibitor

The Invention Novel single chain and single domain antibodies and peptide aptamers which inhibit NS3 protease, have been isolated The Need Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major world-wide health problem, causing chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and primary liver cancer (HCC). Currently there is no anti HCV vaccine, and even the most effective HCV therapy with PEGylated interferon in combination with ribavirin, a nucleoside analog with antiviral activity, is effective in <50% of infected individuals. The high frequency of treatment failure points to the need for more specific, less toxic and more active antiviral therapies for HCV Potential Applications Treating HCV infection Treating or preventing the symptoms of hepatitis Preventing liver damage Preventing HCC

Advantages escape mutants from antibody-mediated inhibition are less likely to arise. protein-transduction approach.

Stage Anti-NS3 antibodies inhibit rat fibroblasts (RF cells) proliferation. Anti-NS3 antibodies and aptamers inhibit HCV replication in a replicon system.

Patent Pending

Inventor(s): Itai Benhar, Ran Tur-Kaspa

Type of Offer: Licensing



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