Colourised scanning electron micrograph of an apoptotic cell (red) heavily infected with SARS-COV-2 virus particles (yellow). Credit: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH / Flickr.

Cocrystal Pharma has announced the selection of two investigational antiviral drug candidates, CDI-988 and CDI-873, to further develop them as oral therapies to treat Covid-19. 

The new broad-spectrum oral candidates act on a conserved area in the active site of SARS-CoV-2 main (3CL) protease needed for replication of the viral ribonucleic acid (RNA). 

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Cocrystal intends to commence a first-in-human clinical trial of one of the candidates soon this year.

CDI-988 and CDI-873 are chemically distinct but both demonstrated greater in vitro potency against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, retaining activity against present variants of concern including Omicron. 

Developed using the structure-based antiviral drug discovery platform of Cocrystal, the candidates showed a favourable safety profile, as well as pharmacokinetic properties that aid in daily oral dosing, in preclinical studies. 

Cocrystal had obtained the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance this month for its pre-Investigational New Drug (IND) briefing package to further advance CDI-45205, a protease inhibitor. 

The response of the regulatory agency clarifies the path for a planned Phase I trial and offers guidance for a Phase II trial subsequently, the company noted.

In 2020, Cocrystal obtained CDI-45205 through an exclusive licence agreement with the Kansas State University Research Foundation in the US.

Cocrystal Pharma president and interim co-CEO Sam Lee said: “We plan to continue evaluating both CDI-988 and CDI-873 for clinical development, while we are also rapidly advancing our inhalation/pulmonary SARS-CoV-2 lead candidate CDI-45205 toward clinical development. 

“The objective of our multipronged strategy is to offer highly potent and safe antiviral therapeutics for hospitalised patients, as well as for those not requiring hospitalisation, including for prophylactic use to provide protection to uninfected individuals who may become exposed.”