Alfacell says studies show antiviral activity of AC 03-636 against Dengue fever

By Lisa Kerner

Charlotte, N.C., Aug. 1 - Alfacell Corp. said new data from in vitro studies shows the definitive antiviral activity of AC 03-636, a novel drug candidate from its proprietary ribonuclease (RNase) technology platform.

The studies used a cell-based infection assay based on immunodetection of the Dengue fever (a mosquito-born infection) antigen.

Researchers found that AC 03-636 displayed meaningful antiviral activity in both BHK21 (animal) and A549 (human) cell lines, according to a company news release.

The World Health Organization estimates that 50 million cases of Dengue fever occur annually. Currently, there are no approved antiviral agents against the Dengue virus, the company said.

"Previously, researchers at The National Institutes of Health found that AC 03-636 was 'markedly active' against the virus causing Yellow fever, another mosquito-born disease," senior vice president Andrew Aromando said in the release.

"We look forward to further studies supporting the potential therapeutic utility of AC-03 636, and to exploring its broad commercial applications as a promising antiviral product."

Alfacell is a Bloomfield, N.J., biopharmaceutical company focused novel therapeutics for cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

© 2015 Prospect News.
All content on this website is protected by copyright law in the U.S. and elsewhere. For the use of the person downloading only.
Redistribution and copying are prohibited by law without written permission in advance from Prospect News.
Redistribution or copying includes e-mailing, printing multiple copies or any other form of reproduction.