Altesa Biosciences Inc. CEO Brett Giroir called the firm’s scientific co-founders George Painter and Dennis Liotta “the most important developers of drugs against viruses on the planet, and probably in history.” Giroir’s remarks came as the College Park, Ga.-based firm launched to develop and commercialize new antiviral drugs against common respiratory bugs such rhinovirus and parainfluenza, as well as vector-borne threats such as Dengue fever, yellow fever, Zika and Powassan.
Infectious disease specialist Aicuris Anti-infective Cures AG has signed a worldwide license agreement worth up to €100 million (US$114 million) with Hybridize Therapeutics for a potential therapy to prevent BK virus (BKV) infections in immunocompromised patients.
Curevo Vaccine Inc. closed on a $60 million series A financing designed to take the company through releasing top-line data for its phase IIb study of CRV-101 for treating shingles in older adults. That means taking on a blockbuster, Shingrix from Glaxosmithkline plc.
Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the U.S. and is also common in certain areas of Europe. Yet, despite this, there are no FDA-approved vaccines available to treat it, meaning those diagnosed must receive a dose of antibiotics. But antibiotics are problematic because of the risk of treatment-resistant strains emerging. That leaves a pressing need for a vaccine or other way to prevent infections from the tick-borne bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi.
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