EV-075 for Influenza
About influenza
Influenza is a viral infection that affects mainly the nose, throat, bronchi and, occasionally, lungs. Infection typically lasts for about a week, and is characterised by sudden onset of high fever, aching muscles, headache and severe malaise, non-productive cough, sore throat and rhinitis. Most infected people recover within one to two weeks without requiring medical treatment. However, in the young, the elderly, and those with other serious medical conditions, infection can lead to severe complications of the underlying condition, pneumonia and death.
The Influenza virus is easily transmitted from person to person. Influenza tends to spread rapidly in seasonal epidemics. Variant Influenzas (such as swine flu & bird flu) and related viruses (such as the SARS coronavirus) can cause pandemics.
Influenza epidemics occur yearly during autumn and winter in temperate regions. Illnesses result in hospitalisations and deaths mainly among high-risk groups (the very young, elderly or chronically ill). Worldwide, these annual epidemics result in about three to five million cases of severe illness, and about 250’000 to 500’000 deaths. Most deaths associated with Influenza in industrialised countries occur among people age 65 or older. In some tropical countries, influenza viruses circulate throughout the year with one or two peaks during rainy seasons.
Current Treatments
While vaccines offer some protection, the rapidly changing antigenic properties of the flu virus pose, and will continue to pose, significant challenges to vaccine developers, requiring a new vaccine to be developed each year.
Currently approved drugs against Influenza include oseltamivir (Tamiflu™), zanamivir (Relenza™), amantadine and flumadine. These drugs can reduce the length and severity of the infection but there is a clear need for additional therapies.
How EV-075 May Benefit Patients
Pre-clinical studies using in-vivo models have shown EV-075 to be superior to Tamiflu™ in reducing the level of lung damage caused by infection. Thus, EV-075 may potentially reduce the risk of catching Influenza when given as prophylaxis. It may also reduce the severity of the infection once caught. Additionally, and due to its mode of action, EV-075 is likely less prone to development of drug resistance (a major issue with flu-like viruses).
Current Development Status
EV-075 is in pre-clinical development and GLP studies on an oral formulation are ongoing. EV-075 has shown efficacy in multiple pre-clinical studies, including models of Influenza.