Cocrystal Pharma's Structure-Based Technology Demonstrated Broad Utility 

Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing novel antiviral therapeutics using its proprietary structure-based drug discovery platform technology to create first-and best-in-class antiviral drugs for a wide variety of serious and/or chronic viral diseases.

Cocrystal’s proprietary structure-based drug discovery platform:

-Provides direct visualization of how essential viral enzymes work
-Identifies attractive drug binding pockets on these enzymes
-Enables the design of compounds to block the function of these enzymes, thereby preventing viral production
-Discovers novel broad spectrum antivirals with high barriers to drug resistance.

“Our proprietary drug discovery platform technology has enabled us to develop antiviral treatments that have generated positive data to date across our current pipeline of preclinical and clinical programs,” said Dr. Gary Wilcox, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cocrystal. “Based on the data we have generated and the demonstrated potential of our technology, we believe we have the capabilities to address shortcomings in the treatment of viruses with significant unmet needs, as well as develop safe and effective antiviral therapies for new viruses as they arise, such as the COVID-19 coronavirus. This is an opportunity to use our proprietary drug discovery platform and antiviral experience to participate in this worldwide health crisis and we have begun planning our coronavirus program.”

Cocrystal’s technology generates a 3-D structure of inhibitor complexes at near-atomic resolution providing the Company with the ability to identify novel binding sites and allow for a rapid turnaround of structural information through highly automated X-ray data processing and refinement. By utilizing this technology, Cocrystal is able to develop treatments that specifically target essential viral enzymes. The Company is currently leveraging its unique structure-based technologies to develop antiviral drugs for hepatitis C, influenza, and norovirus.

To date, Cocrystal’s lead influenza molecule in development, CC-42344, has shown excellent antiviral activity against influenza A strains, including avian pandemic strains and Tamiflu-resistant strains, and a favorable pharmacokinetic and safety profile.

In addition, the company has an ongoing partnership with Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. (Merck) to discover and develop a novel influenza drug for influenza A and B infections. The company expects the lead molecule will be selected for its influenza A/B program in the fourth quarter of 2020.

The company announced positive safety and preliminary efficacy data from its triple regimen, US Phase 2a study evaluating CC-31244 and Epclusa (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir) for the ultra-short treatment of HCV infected individuals. Planning is underway to initiate a Phase 2b study.

The company is working on a potential first-in-class non-nucleoside inhibitor (NNI) that will have both potent and broad-spectrum Noro polymerase inhibition. Work has also begun on a protease inhibitor. The technology platform has been completed and the structure-based lead discovery is ongoing in both programs.

Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing novel antiviral therapeutics that target the replication machinery of influenza viruses, hepatitis C viruses, and noroviruses. For more information, visit www.cocrystalpharma.com.