Blocviroc – an innovative treatment for HIV/AIDS

Steve EnglishDevelopment Head, Antivirals

The Context

• HIV/AIDs is the world’s greatest threat to human health

• Over 40 million people are infected worldwide

• There is no known cure. Treatments have improved but there are still problems with virus resistance and patient adherence

• Blocviroc is a novel treatment and patients would take one pill per day

Mode of Action

• Blocviroc treats the host rather than attacking the virus

• It binds to two receptors on the surface of human immune cells known as T-cells

• It prevents the virus entering the cell

• Blocviroc is more effective than existing therapies

CCR5

CD4

CCR5 antagonist

Human immune cell surfaceHuman immune cell surface

HIV

Phase II Trials

• Excellent results.

• In just two weeks viral count dropped by 90% in volunteer patients

• Only minor side effects

• On stopping treatment, the viral count did not rise immediately

Phase III Trials• Expensive – around $500 million

• 5,000 volunteers needed from all around the world

• Three year study

• Risks: – Similar compounds have caused liver damage– Not sure of the long-term effect of interfering

with the immune system– A competitor might discover a vaccine

Market Considerations

• Not going to be a blockbuster

• Over 2 million people in Europe and North America have AIDS

• A treatment not a cure – patients will have to continue with the drug

• Manufacturing Blocviroc will be expensive

• Regulators will look favourably on a new treatment for HIV

Questions