Benzinga | Aug 12, 2020 07:18AM EDT

Hepion Pharma Highlights Peer-Reviewed Journal, 'PLOS ONE,' Published Paper On Antiviral Activities Of Co.'s CRV431 For NASH Fibrosis; Single Administration Inhibited Hep C Injection In Humanized Liver Mouse Modle

Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:HEPA), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of therapeutic drugs for the treatment of liver disease arising from non-alcoholic steatohepatitis ("NASH"), today announced that the peer-reviewed journal, PLOS ONE, has published a paper that further elucidates antiviral activities of CRV431, Hepion's lead drug candidate, which is currently in a Phase 2a clinical trial for NASH fibrosis.

The article reviews a study, conducted by Dr. Philippe Gallay's research group at The Scripps Research Institute, investigating the ability of CRV431 and NV556, two structurally different cyclophilin inhibitors, to inhibit hepatitis C virus ("HCV") replication in vivo. The paper, entitled, "Structurally Distinct Cyclosporin and Sanglifehrin Analogs CRV431 and NV556 Suppress Established HCV Infection in Humanized-Liver Mice" is co-authored by Dr. Daren Ure, Hepion's Chief Scientific Officer, and Dr. Robert Foster, Hepion's CEO.

Mice implanted with human hepatocytes were subsequently infected with HCV and simultaneously administered either 50 mg/kg CRV431, 50 mg/kg NV556 or vehicle control. Vehicle-treated mice demonstrated HCV replication reaching peak viremia at nine weeks post infection, whereas HCV infection was completely abolished in mice treated with CRV431 or NV556. When CRV431 and NV556 were administered to mice at three- and six-weeks post HCV infection, HCV replication was totally inhibited at nine- and 12-weeks, respectively. In addition, no viral rebound was observed five months following a single CRV431 or NV556 administration, indicating the possibility of the complete suppression of an established viral infection.

"We have conducted a number of in vitro and in vivo studies that have demonstrated CRV431's antiviral activity toward hepatitis B, HCV and HIV-11," said Dr. Ure. "This study adds to the consistent body of data indicating that CRV431 exhibits antiviral activity across multiple types of viral infection."

Dr. Philippe Gallay, Professor, Department of Immunology and Microbial Science at the Scripps Research Institute, commented, "A primary focus of our research has been on the interaction of cyclophilins and various viruses, and we are impressed with CRV431's continued demonstration of antiviral activity. The many isoforms of cyclophilins and their diverse actions are the reasons why they are uniquely versatile drug targets in multiple indications, including viral infection, inflammation, fibrosis and cancer. This study suggests that cyclophilin inhibitors provide additive-to-synergistic anti-HCV activity when combined with direct-acting antivirals, and moreover, may help overcome certain viral variants' resistance to these treatments."

Dr. Foster added, "While we continue to focus on our Phase 2a trial of CRV431 for the treatment of NASH, we are excited by these results, which provide additional support of CRV431's antiviral activity across several types of viral infection. These new data, in addition to a recent in vitro study showing that particular concentrations of CRV431 attenuate SARS-CoV-2 by up to 90% in certain cell types, warrant further investigation of CRV431's utility in treating COVID-19."

The article may be accessed at: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0237236

1 Gallay PA, Bobardt MD, Chatterji U, Trepanier DJ, Ure D, Ordonez C, Foster R (2015) The Novel Cyclophilin Inhibitor CPI-431-32 Concurrently Blocks HCV and HIV-1 Infections via a Similar Mechanism of Action. PLOS One. doi. 10.1371/journal.pone.0134707.