Retrovirox receives another NIH grant for novel inhibitors of HIV entry

RetroVirox, Inc., a biotechnology company specializing in the development of novel antivirals, announced today that it has received a grant award of $296,875 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This is the second award to RetroVirox from the NIH in less than six months. In March 2009 the company received its first grant to develop novel inhibitors of HIV entry.

Since the company started operations in its San Diego headquarters early this year, RetroVirox has secured over $515,000 in grants from the NIH. “We are very pleased with this second award from the National Institutes of Health. This is an important milestone for the company in such a short period of time after its inception,” said Dr. Juan Lama, RetroVirox President and CEO.

This second grant will help finance the preclinical development of anti-HIV drugs that block removal of the virus receptor, the CD4 protein. RetroVirox utilizes proprietary assays to identify inhibitors of this viral function, which has proven essential for the replication of HIV. The “entry inhibitors” RetroVirox has identified are efficient against all HIV strains found in patients and demonstrate potential advantages over other existing approaches to treat HIV.

Using similar technologies, the company is developing proprietary assays to create a platform for the discovery of drugs against other major human viruses, including HCV.

Both NIH grants awarded to RetroVirox to date are part of the NIH Phase I SBIR mechanism. These grants are often followed by larger Phase II awards focused in the preclinical and commercialization steps of novel therapies.

“We are very appreciative of the support shown by the NIH. Funding from alternative sources has become very important for early-stage biotechnology companies,” emphasized Dr. Lama. “In this extremely competitive funding environment, the interest shown by the NIH in our discovery platforms highlights the potential of our antiviral programs. This award provides further scientific validation of our technology and its applicability.”