MEDIVIR APPLIES TO BEGIN TRIALS OF CATHEPSIN K INHIBITOR

Medivir has filed an application with European regulatory authorities to begin Phase I clinical trials with MIV-701, an inhibitor of cathepsin K. The trials are expected to start during the first quarter.

Inappropriately high activity of cathepsin K is thought to be a factor behind diseases such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, Paget's disease and certain tumors, causing bone metastases, according to the company. Selective inhibition of cathepsin K could become a new treatment principle for these diseases.

Compounds inhibiting cathepsin K are expected to decrease degradation of bone in osteoporosis without inhibiting bone formation. This would be a great advantage compared with currently used drugs, the various bisphosphonates that inhibit both bone degradation and bone formation, Medivir said.

Cathepsin K inhibitors are also expected to be efficacious against arthritis conditions and skeletal metastases from malignant tumors, according to the company. Treatment of arthritis is currently limited to pain relief and anti-inflammatory drugs, which do not prevent cartilage degradation.