Promising COVID oral antiviral being co-researched by Healion Bio and FUJIFILM Toyama
PR95715
FREDERICK, Md., April 29, 2022 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --
Healion Bio, a closely held biotechnology company, today announced a
collaborative agreement to research a combination antiviral against SARS-CoV-2
and other deadly pathogens. The combination will include one of Healion Bio's
protease inhibitors and Favipiravir (its trade name, Avigan), an antiviral drug
developed by FUJIFILM Toyama Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan.
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Dr. Sina Bavari, co-founder of Healion Bio, noted "Highly contagious pathogens
can rarely be stopped by testing, vaccines, and hospital therapeutics alone.
The DoD developed the concept of a layered defense, and the critical drugs to
have on hand are oral antivirals and post exposure prophylaxis that can be
administered in the community to halt outbreaks." Dr. Bavari has worked
extensively with Favipiravir when he was the chief science officer of the US
Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), the DoD's
tip of the spear in developing countermeasures to viral threats.
Dr. Furuta Yosuke, the inventor of Favipiravir, was enthusiastic "Our research
team sees a great potential to expand antiviral therapeutics through this
program." Simon Newman, co-founder, and CEO of Healion Bio added, "As
SARS-CoV-2 continues to mutate, we will need more drugs than just Molnupiravir,
Paxlovid and MPro inhibitors. We are working with FUJIFILM Toyama to benefit
from their decades of experience in oral antivirals." Dr. Bavari observed, "the
best antiviral drugs are always synergistic combinations that reduce the risk
of viral resistance and are designed to work against multiple indications such
as coronaviruses, influenza and filoviruses."
About FUJIFILM
FUJIFILM Toyama Co., Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of FUJIFILM Corporation.
FUJIFILM Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, is one of the major operating companies of
FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, a global 500 business with revenues of over $21
Billion. The company brings cutting edge solutions and core technologies to
various fields including healthcare, graphic systems, functional materials,
optical devices, digital imaging, and document products. For more information,
please visit: holdings.fujifilm.com (
)
About Healion Bio
Healion Bio, Inc., Frederick, MD, is a biotechnology development company
developing the next generation of antiviral compounds. The company has two
antiviral platforms: the HB-100 series of protease inhibitors, as well as the
HB-200/300 series of next generation antiviral biologics. The HB-100 series is
a first in class antiviral with an orthogonal mechanism of action to existing
drugs. For more information, please visit: www.healiobio.com
SOURCE: Healion Bio
CONTACT: Akari Kobayashi, akari@healionbio.com, (240) 752-8840
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