Glycobiology Antiviral Agents


Our glycobiology antiviral agents were developed and licensed under our research agreement with the Oxford Glycobiology Institute for eventual commercialization. The iminosugar molecules enter host cells and inhibit the chemical pathways that viruses use to fold their proteins. Because the iminosugars affect the host cell, rather than attacking the virus directly, they reduce the chance for drug-resistant virus strains to emerge. In laboratory tests, the iminosugar molecules have shown activity against at least five different families of viruses. We are now conducting initial in vivo tests. We have obtained initial support for the preclinical research effort from government agencies such as the National Institutes of Health.