GRAND CAYMAN ISLAND, British West Indies, Dec. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Agouron
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today reported significant improvements in cold
symptoms among volunteers given intranasal doses of its investigational
compound AG7088 targeting human rhinovirus (the most frequent cause of the
common cold) following experimentally induced rhinovirus infection. Results
were presented by Frederick Hayden M.D., Professor of Internal Medicine at the
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, at the "II International Symposium on
Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses," held December 10-12th in Grand
Cayman Island, British West Indies. Based on these phase II results, the
company is proceeding with a large phase II clinical trial of AG7088 in the
treatment of people with naturally acquired colds.
Agouron was the first company to solve the structure of the human
rhinovirus 3C protease, an enzyme essential for rhinovirus replication.
AG7088 is a small synthetic molecule designed to inhibit the rhinovirus
3C protease and presents a broad spectrum of potent antirhinoviral activity in
preclinical testing. Co-investigators who participated in this clinical trial
were Ronald B. Turner, M.D. of the Medical University of South Carolina,
Charleston, and Jack M. Gwaltney, Jr., M.D. of the University of Virginia,
Charlottesville. In a phase II placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind
trial, susceptible volunteers were administered multiple daily intranasal
doses of AG7088 starting twenty-four hours after deliberate exposure to human
rhinovirus. This schedule demonstrated significantly reduced total cold
symptom and respiratory symptom scores relative to placebo controls, as well
as viral concentrations and cumulative nasal mucous production. AG7088 was
generally well-tolerated in this study. Frederick Hayden, M.D., said, "The
findings of significant improvement in total cold symptoms and reduction in
rhinovirus concentrations in the upper respiratory tract in individuals with
experimental rhinovirus infection who were subsequently treated with AG7088,
warrant further investigation of how this agent may perform against natural
colds."
Based on these results, Agouron has initiated a large phase II clinical
trial to evaluate the human rhinovirus 3C protease inhibitor AG7088 in the
treatment of people with naturally acquired colds, at more than 50 sites
throughout the U.S. To determine eligibility and enroll in the trial,
individuals should call 1-877-STUFFY-1 within 36 hours after first
experiencing cold symptoms. Medication will be provided free of charge, in
addition to reimbursement for time and travel.
In addition to being the most frequent cause of the common cold in the
general population, rhinovirus infections are associated with exacerbations in
those with certain chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma, emphysema,
and chronic bronchitis, which affect more than thirty million Americans.
Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Warner-Lambert Company (NYSE: WLA) is an integrated pharmaceutical company
committed to the discovery, development, manufacturing, and marketing of
innovative therapeutic products engineered to inactivate proteins that play
key roles in cancer, AIDS, and other serious diseases. Agouron employs more
than 1100 people of whom approximately 700 are engaged in research and
development.
SOURCE Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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CONTACT:
Joy Schmitt, Associate Director, Product
Public Relations of Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 858-622-3220
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