Viron discovers and commercializes potent biologics that modulate key steps in the inflammatory cascade and is the first company to successfully advance a viral protein as a therapeutic agent into human clinical testing. Viron's novel approach to drug discovery has produced some of the most potent anti-inflammatory molecules ever described. Viron's proprietary viral protein candidate screening program, PROSPECTTM - PROtein Screen for Pathogen-Evolved Combined Therapeutics, enables the identification and prioritization of candidates with the highest commercial potential.
Viruses are among the most successful invaders of the human body. Through millions of years of co-evolution with their hosts, viruses have been able to mutate, adapt and overcome detection and clearance by the immune system. This evolutionary process has naturally selected viral proteins that evade the human immune system. Today's viruses have successfully identified the key molecular and cellular targets that regulate critical pathways of the human immune system and produce countermeasures to inactivate or block them.
Viron is founded on the proven principles that certain protein therapeutics are pre-validated as targeting important regulatory pathways, reducing the risk of insufficient biological activity. These viral proteins possess certain key competitive advantages over monoclonal antibody approaches:
1. Innately focused on critical targets: Having co-evolved with the mammalian immune system, viruses have determined the most potent pathways that are critical to dampening an inflammatory response.
2. High potency: Viral proteins require lower doses than most biologics (µg/kg vs mg/kg), which reduces potential for toxicity and immunogenicity.
3. High affinity to target: Viral proteins demonstrate equivalent or greater binding than most monoclonal antibody therapies.
4. Capable of targeting multiple immunomodulatory pathways: Few biologics in development target multiple pathways.
