FDA approves FermaVir's pre-IND for novel drug candidate to treat shingles

By Lisa Kerner

Erie, Pa., April 17 - FermaVir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. said the Food and Drug Administration concurred with its strategy for phase 1 toxicity testing as part of its pre-Investigational New Drug application for a novel antiviral drug candidate, CF-1743, for shingles.

The FDA's response included recommendations for the company's drug development program, including specified timelines for FermaVir's submission of studies through phase 2a clinical trials, according to a company news release.

CF-1743 is among a portfolio of FermaVir's proprietary candidates in development to treat viral diseases related to herpes, including Cytomegalovirus.

Research data suggests that the CF-1743 compound is believed to be 10,000 times more potent than currently approved drug treatments for shingles, the release stated.

"We are extremely pleased with the FDA's response to our Investigational New Drug application for preclinical and clinical studies related to our novel antiviral compound," chief executive officer Geoffrey Henson said in the release.

"The guidelines provided will enable us to launch a fast development track for this compound, which we believe has the potential to become a critically needed new antiviral therapy for the treatment of shingles."

FermaVir is an emerging biotechnology company based in New York.

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