First Clinical Development Candidate of Cidara’s Influenza Program Announced

Data supporting the selection of the antiviral conjugate CB-012 as Cidara Therapeutics Incorporated’s first clinical development candidate from the company’s Cloudbreak^® influenza program was presented during oral sessions of 29th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID), held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands from April 13 to 16, 2019.

The presentation described results from nonclinical studies evaluating the potential of CB-012 for the treatment of seasonal and pandemic influenza A and B infections. The data suggested that CB-012 has superior in vitro activity and coverage of both A and B viruses compared with current standard-of-care antivirals. In preclinical efficacy models, a single dose of CB-012 was also shown to provide full protection from or treatment of H1N1, H3N2, and oseltamivir-resistant H1N1 infections. The conjugate also had long half-life in multiple preclinical species and showed efficacy in intravenous, subcutaneous, and intramuscular dosing formulations. Preclinical models also showed that compared with oseltamivir, which loses its ability to protect when administered >24 hours postinfection, CB-012 has an expanded treatment window of 72 hours postinfection.

In a press release announcing the presentation at ECCMID, Les Tari, senior vice president of research for Cidara said, “the data being presented today at ECCMID suggest CB-012 could provide longer, effective protection for patients from the influenza virus as compared to current standards of care.” In the same release Cidara president and chief executive officer, Jeffery Stein, when speaking on CB-012 said, “a single molecule which links a potent antiviral drug with a long-acting immune system engager has the potential for important advantages over traditional vaccines and therapies.”

According to the company, the Cloudbreak antiviral conjugates use a dual mechanism to attack influenza. First, the antiviral agent neutralizes the virus directly, while the antibody fragment engages the immune system to accelerate elimination of the pathogen.

The press release noted that statements made within it, “regarding matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,” and as such, “are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.”

Reference

Cidara Therapeutics Inc. Cidara Therapeutics Selects First Clinical Development Candidate from its Cloudbreak Influenza (Antiviral) Program. CB-012 demonstrates potent antiviral activity against influenza A and B viruses. Cidara presenting preclinical results today at ECCMID 2019 [press release]. April 15, 2019. Accessed April 25, 2019.

This article originally appeared on Infectious Disease Advisor