China-based Ascletis Pharma Inc. (HKG: 1672) has announced that its Investigational New Drug (IND) filing for ASC11, an oral inhibitor drug candidate targeting 3-chymotrypsin like protease (3CLpro) for COVID-19, has been accepted for review by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).
Drug Profile and Potency
In antiviral cellular assays with infectious SARS-CoV-2, ASC11 demonstrated significantly higher potency against the virus compared to other 3CLpro inhibitors, including nirmatrelvir, S-217622, PBI-0451, and EDP-235. ASC11 remains effective against various Omicron variants, such as BA.1 and BA.5. In animal models infected with SARS-CoV-2, ASC11 also exhibited potent antiviral activity.
Development and Intellectual Property
ASC11 is an in-house discovered oral small-molecule drug candidate designed using proprietary technologies, including molecular docking. Ascletis has filed global patent applications for the drug and related compounds, covering their use in treating viral diseases. Another IND filing for ASC11 was submitted in the US earlier this month, highlighting Ascletis’ commitment to advancing the drug globally.-Fineline Info & Tech
