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Cocrystal Pharma’s Norovirus Oral Antiviral Candidate Demonstrates Potent Activity Against the Emerging GII.17 Variants

Core Insights - Cocrystal Pharma's investigational drug candidate CDI-988 demonstrates strong binding to the GII.17 protease, showing excellent potency against norovirus variants, particularly GII.4 and GII.17 strains [1][6] - The company plans to initiate a human norovirus challenge study in 2025 to evaluate CDI-988 for prevention and treatment of norovirus infections [1][6] Company Overview - Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel antiviral therapeutics targeting noroviruses, influenza viruses, coronaviruses, and hepatitis C viruses [5] - The company utilizes unique structure-based technologies and expertise in enzymology and medicinal chemistry to create first- and best-in-class antiviral drugs [5] Product Development - CDI-988 is a pan-viral protease inhibitor designed for broad-spectrum antiviral activity, targeting a highly conserved region in 3CL viral proteases [3] - A Phase 1 study has been completed, showing favorable safety and tolerability for CDI-988 in healthy adults [3][6] Technological Innovation - Cocrystal's proprietary structure-based platform technology provides near-atomic resolution insights into inhibitor complexes, facilitating rapid development of effective antiviral therapies [4] - The technology aims to identify novel binding sites and ensure a high barrier to viral resistance, enhancing the efficacy of antiviral treatments [4] Market Context - Norovirus is the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis globally, with an estimated 685 million cases and approximately 50,000 child deaths annually, resulting in a societal cost of around $60 billion [2] - The emergence of GII.17 variants has led to increased norovirus outbreaks, highlighting the urgent need for effective antiviral treatments [6]