Cocrystal Pharma Initiates Enrollment in Phase 1 Influenza A Study


Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. recently announced dosing of the first subjects in a Phase 1 clinical trial of healthy adults evaluating its novel, broad-spectrum, orally administered antiviral CC-42344 for the treatment of pandemic and seasonal influenza A. The study is designed to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of CC-42344 with results expected later this year.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 1 study is expected to enroll up to 56 healthy adults at a single site in Australia. CC-42344 is an oral PB2 inhibitor that blocks an essential step of influenza viral replication and transcription. CC-42344 was discovered using Cocrystal’s proprietary structure-based drug discovery platform technology.

“There is an urgent need for new antiviral medicines that address pandemic and drug-resistant seasonal influenza strains,” said Sam Lee, PhD, Cocrystal’s President and co-interim CEO. “CC-42344 specifically targets the PB2 protein of influenza polymerase complex and exhibits broad-spectrum antiviral activity including against Tamiflu- or Xofluza-resistant strains. In preclinical testing, CC-42344 has shown favorable pharmacokinetic and safety profiles. Advancing CC-42344 into clinical studies further validates our proprietary drug discovery platform technology.”

“Enrolling the first participants represents a significant milestone in advancing the development of CC-42344 for the treatment of this highly contagious viral infection that can have life-threatening complications,” added James Martin, Cocrystal’s CFO and co-interim CEO. “This study is the first of three first-in-human trials we expect to initiate in 2022, with the other two evaluating our novel antiviral therapeutic candidates for SARS-CoV-2.”

Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing novel antiviral therapeutics that target the replication process of influenza viruses, coronaviruses (including SARS-CoV-2), hepatitis C viruses and noroviruses. Cocrystal employs unique structure-based technologies and Nobel Prize-winning expertise to create first- and best-in-class antiviral drugs. For more information, visit www.cocrystalpharma.com.