From discovery to cure: the complex path of antiherpetic drug development
We frequently hear about breakthrough discoveries and promising results for new antiherpetic drugs, only to hear nothing more about them afterward. Promising therapies are announced, followed by long periods of silence. Why don’t these promising drugs reach the market? Why does drug development take so long? Is there a way to accelerate the process? Where are the bottlenecks? How can we better understand what is happening in antiherpetic drug development, and are there any examples of successful pathways from lab to clinic?
In this presentation, we will examine the complete process of developing, testing, and obtaining approval for new drugs in general and antivirals in particular, with a focus on antiherpetic therapies. We will review the unique challenges in antiviral development and how the biology and pathology of herpes simplex virus add complexity to these challenges. Topics will include drug resistance selection, therapies and their limitations, and case studies from existing antivirals. We trace the development pathway of established drugs like valacyclovir (Valtrex) and examine the lengthy process behind the emerging helicase-primase inhibitors, including Pritelivir, IM-250, ABI-5366, and ABI-1179.
SPEAKER: Luis Schang, MV, PhD