Project PC 2000
The Development of Novel Immune Modulators for the Treatment of Hepatitis B and C and the Development of a Bioassay.
This project focuses on the development of novel pharmaceuticals for the management and treatment of both chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C.
These two viruses infect 100s of millions of people world wide. These viruses are the most common cause of chronic liver disease and often result in long term scarring or cirrhosis and the development of liver cancer and is the largest cause of death in China and East Asian countries.
Whilst hepatitis B vaccination will prevent disease spread no vaccine is currently available to prevent hepatitis C transmission. In addition current treatments are associated, in some, with debilitating side effects, are expensive and only partially effective. Furthermore the anti virals used to treat chronic hepatitis B infection are associated with an increasing incidence of viral resistance and treatments of chronic hepatitis C infection only results in an overall success rate of around fifty percent viral clearance.
Aus Bio has produced further drug candidates which may molecularly mimic some of the body’s natural defence proteins. These drug candidates will shortly undergo further testing and evaluation.
The Company’s assay development has progressed during the year. This work is ongoing. Aus Bio is not aware of any other similar assay system available commercially. Successful scientific completion of this project will allow Aus Bio to pursue negotiations with a NASDAQ listed company which, as a result of a signed Materials Transfer Agreement, has a first right option to negotiate the purchase or licence of the Aus Bio developed bioassay.