PHILADELPHIA, PA - (March 27, 2017) - Following its recent receipt of over $6M in NIH grants, Phelix Therapeutics LLC has penned a research collaboration with The United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) and The Geneva Foundation for continued testing of Phelix’s novel viral fusion inhibitors for treating SARS/MERS coronaviruses.
Founded in 2013, Phelix Therapeutics is applying its BioInspired™ drug development platforms to develop first line solutions for unmet medical needs. Phelix has discovered novel classes of potent and highly selective biomimetic protease inhibitors that it is developing for life threatening conditions. The company’s pipeline program is focused on advancing highly potent protease inhibitors for fibrotic diseases, ischemia/reperfusion injury and metabolic diseases, and includes its viral fusion inhibitors for SARS/MERS coronaviruses and filoviruses.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) cause life-threatening gastrointestinal, respiratory, and neurological symptoms. The global SARS outbreak of 2002 was fatal in ~10% of infected patients, and is an example that the emergence of pathogenic coronaviruses from animals to humans can occur at any time. As of July 2015, MERS has been reported in over 21 countries. Both MERS and SARS are identified by the World Health Organization as likely to cause future epidemics and are targeted for urgent research and development. There are currently no Food and Drug Administration (FDA) -approved drugs available for treatment of SARS or MERS.
“Although it’s still early, the emerging data for this new class of antivirals looks very promising for SARS/MERS, as well as for Ebola and Marburg virus,”says Dr. Doron Greenbaum, CEO and Founder of Phelix Therapeutics. Dr. Greenbaum added that he is extremely pleased to be collaborating with USAMRIID, as “their expertise and abilities are unmatched in infectious disease research.”
Other viruses from the coronavirus family are also believed to cause a significant percentage of all common colds in human adults. Kenneth Kovan, VP of Corporate Development & Operations for Phelix Therapeutics, states, “Of further interest to Phelix is the extension of our viral fusion inhibition platform into other coronaviruses, with our research potentially leading to a family of therapeutics for a broader range of viral infections.”
About Phelix Therapeutics LLC
Phelix Therapeutics is a biopharmaceuticals company focused on applying its BioInspired™ drug development platforms to develop first line solutions for unmet medical needs. Phelix has discovered novel classes of potent and highly selective biomimetic protease inhibitors that it is developing for life threatening conditions such as ischemia/reperfusion injury, fibrosis, metabolic diseases, emerging infectious diseases such as SARS/MERS coronaviruses and filoviruses, and multidrug resistant bacterial infections. Located at the University City Science Center in Philadelphia PA, Phelix Therapeutics has working relationships with the NIH as well as various academic laboratories. For more information, visit www.phelixtherapeutics.com.
About United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases
USAMRIID’s mission is to provide leading edge medical capabilities to deter and defend against current and emerging biological threat agents. Research conducted at USAMRIID leads to medical solutions—vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, and information—that benefit both military personnel and civilians. The Institute plays a key role as the lead military medical research laboratory for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Joint Science and Technology Office for Chemical and Biological Defense. USAMRIID is a subordinate laboratory of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command. For more information, visit www.usamriid.army.mil
About The Geneva Foundation
The Geneva Foundation (Geneva), is a non-profit organization headquartered in Tacoma, WA. Established in 1993, Geneva supports innovative medical research within the U.S. military in the areas of federal grants, industry-sponsored clinical trials, federal contracts, and event management. We build enduring partnerships with world-renowned researchers, dedicated sponsors, and highly-skilled research and administrative professionals, all dedicated to the health and well-being of U.S. service members, their families, and the global community. For more information, visit www.genevaUSA.org
Funding: Studies at Phelix Therapeutics LLC were in part supported by the National Institutes of Health
The information contained in this press release does not necessarily reflect the position or the policy of the Government and no official endorsement should be inferred.
