Led by Robarts Scientist Dr. Grant McFadden, researchers have identified a new viral protein called VT-346 (vTNF-BP) that exhibits 10-20 times higher affinity than Remicade and Enbrel at binding a human cytokine called tumour necrosis factor (TNF), which is involved in one of the body's primary immune responses and contributes to the painful inflammation associated with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Remicade and Enbrel, both blockbuster pharmaceutical success stories target this same molecule and have sales in the hundreds of millions of dollars. As a result, the identification of this molecule could represent a huge opportunity for Viron as it prepares to move into pre-clinical testing of the compound.

While researchers stress the finding requires further study before extensive testing would begin, the long-term hope is that it could lead to a new potential weapon in the growing arsenal of immunotherapeutic approaches to disease, treatments that aim to stimulate or restore the ability of the immune system to fight infection and disease.

"Viruses have all evolved ways to evade or fight back against the body's immune system, and this new viral protein could be very effective in shutting down a particularly damaging inflammatory response," explained Dr. McFadden, co-director of the BioTherapeutics Research Group at Robarts, and Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at The University of Western Ontario. Dr. McFadden also holds a Canada Research Chair in Molecular Virology and he is considered one of the top three researchers in the world studying the therapeutic potential of viral proteins.

The lead author on the paper is Dr. Craig Brunetti, a post-doctoral fellow who worked with Dr. McFadden for three years. Other collaborators are from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland and Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The work was supported by the Swiss National Foundation, as well as the National Cancer Institute of Canada and Viron Therapeutics Inc. of London, Ontario.

Viron Therapeutics is a privately owned biotechnology company, founded by Dr. McFadden and Dr. Alexandra Lucas, which focuses on the discovery and development of novel protein therapeutics for the treatment of human disease. Viron is a spin-off from the Robarts Research Institute, and was formed in 1997. Since that time, Viron has successfully completed Phase I clinical trials for its lead anti-inflammatory compound VT-111, and is now in financing negotiations to fund an upcoming Phase II clinical trial for Acute Coronary Syndrome. Today's press release shows, however, that Viron continues to place emphasis on its exciting pipeline of viral proteins that could change the way inflammatory disease is treated.

For more information, please contact Kevin Sullivan, Manager of Business Development at Viron Therapeutics Inc. (519) 858-5120.