LA JOLLA, Calif., Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,
(Nasdaq-NNM: AGPH) today announced that its scientists have solved the three-
dimensional atomic structure of the protease enzyme encoded by the human
hepatitis C virus (HCV).  HCV is a virus that causes illness that ranges from
a mild flu-like disease to progressive liver disease, cirrhosis and primary
liver cancer.  Solution of the HCV protease structure opens the way to the
design of a new class of anti-viral drugs that block the HCV protease and
disrupt the HCV life cycle.
    The solution by Agouron scientists of the NS3 protease structure from HCV
at a resolution of 2.4 Angstroms was reported in today's issue of the
scientific journal "Cell," Vol. 87, No. 2.  The HCV protease is the fourth
viral protease structure to be solved over a period of six years by Agouron
scientific teams consisting of molecular biologists, protein biochemists and
protein crystallographers.
    An Agouron research team solved the structure of the HIV protease in 1990.
VIRACEPT (nelfinavir mesylate), an Agouron anti-HIV drug now in pivotal
clinical trials was designed on the basis of the HIV protease structure.  In
1994, an Agouron scientific team solved the structure of the 3C protease
enzyme from rhinovirus -- the most frequent cause of the common cold.  Agouron
is now carrying out preclinical evaluation and optimization of several potent
rhinovirus protease inhibitors and intends to commence development of one such
compound in 1997.  Six weeks ago, Agouron scientists reported their solution
of the structure of the protease encoded by cytomegalovirus (CMV) -- a virus
that causes degeneration of vision in immunocompromised patients.  A major
program to design specific inhibitors of the CMV protease is now in progress
at Agouron.  Agouron is conducting development of VIRACEPT, as well as design
of inhibitors of proteases from CMV and HCV in collaboration with the
pharmaceutical division of Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT).
    "With the structure of the HCV protease in hand, we know of no other
company in the pharmaceutical industry in possession of so deep and
diversified a structural data base covering proteases as anti-viral drug
targets," said Peter Johnson, Agouron's president and chief executive officer.
"As a result we expect that VIRACEPT will ultimately prove to be only the
first of a series of viral protease inhibitors from Agouron that make
important contributions to anti-viral therapy."
    Japan Tobacco, a diversified company with annual revenues in excess of
$30 billion and assets exceeding $18 billion, entered the pharmaceutical
business in 1987.  In the field of ethical pharmaceuticals, JT is currently
engaged in clinical development of various drugs, including those for the
treatment of dimentia, asthma, and angina pectoris, and has launched a 5HT3
antagonist as an anti-emetic in Japan in 1994.  JT presently conducts drug
discovery research at its new Central Pharmaceutical Research Institute in
Osaka, Japan.
    Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a pioneer and leader in the development
and application of technologies that enable the atom by atom design of novel
synthetic drugs based upon the molecular structures of target proteins which
play key roles in human disease.  Agouron is currently applying these
technologies to the design and development of novel drugs for treatment of
cancer, AIDS and other serious diseases.

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