Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held company, announced today that it has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the United States Naval Health Research Center for preclinical studies evaluating Adamas' triple combination antiviral drug (TCAD) therapy for influenza A, including novel influenza A/H1N1. TCAD therapy includes Adamas' investigational proprietary fixed-dose oral combination drug, to be administered adjunctively with a neuraminidase inhibitor, including Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate, Roche).
Under the CRADA, the U.S. Naval Health Research Center will conduct comparative tests of Adamas' TCAD therapy against various strains of the influenza A virus, including seasonal influenza (H1N1, H3N2), avian influenza (H5N1) and novel influenza A/H1N1. The purpose of these studies is to assess the in vitro activity of TCAD therapy against various circulating and/or highly pathogenic strains of the influenza A virus, as well as to compare the in vitro activity of TCAD therapy to other pharmaceutical agents when used alone or in double combination. Data from these experiments will be used to advance the development of Adamas' TCAD therapy as a potential broad-spectrum antiviral therapy for serious infections caused by influenza A viruses. In addition, Adamas and the Navy's work with the novel influenza A/H1N1 virus may provide insight into this widespread public health issue.
"Collaborating with the U.S. Naval Health Research Center, with its leadership in medicine and its seminal work in discovering the novel influenza A/H1N1 virus, will significantly advance Adamas' efforts to develop TCAD therapy in response to the influenza pandemic," said Gregory Went, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Adamas. "We look forward to partnering with the Naval Health Research Center to generate data that further support the potential use of TCAD therapy for the military, healthcare workers and general public when faced with the global threat of influenza A outbreaks."