MIP-11, a biotech company set up by Russian Venture Company, has joined the Skolkovo innovation hub to work on its anti-C-type hepatitis project aimed at developing and bringing to market innovative drugs and cell technologies to combat the serious disease, Russian Venture Company (RVC) reports.
C-type hepatitis is the most acute form of viral hepatitis, the deadliest in its chronic manifestation as it often transforms into hepatocirrhosis and liver cancer. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 170 million people are infected with C-type hepatitis across the planet. Russian stats authorities estimate there are five million Russians having the disease. MIP-11 is reportedly looking into use of an experimental pharma composition, designated AVR-560, which is believed to have direct anti-viral impact on the C-type virus. The new drug candidate is assumed to block the virus’ entry into the healthy biliary cells, thus preventing infection. The agent is currently undergoing later-stage preclinical trials and is expected to reveal a low level of side effects and “basically no contraindications,” the developers say. Today, there’s no medicine in the market that would cure a C-type hepatitis patient completely. Using interferon and ribavirin is 40-50% effective. In 15-20% of cases the virus is checked and even reduced to levels that can’t be quantified; the remaining virus however continues to infect healthy cells unrestrictedly even after a therapy is over. If the research team pulls it off, Russia will have its own next gen drug that will enhance protease inhibitors recently brought to market, and is expected to improve interferon-free C-type hepatitis therapies, MIP-11 hopes.
Source: marchmontnews.com