In Vitro Testing Confirms Antiviral Activity of WP1122 in Coronavirus

Moleculin Biotech announced a second round of independent laboratory testing has confirmed the antiviral activity of WP1122 against coronavirus.

Moleculin contracted with IIT Research Institute (an affiliate of the Illinois Institute of Technology, IITRI) for additional in vitro testing of its drug candidate, WP1122, in development as a possible treatment for COVID-19. The testing involved a cell viability assay in the VERO E6 cell line infected with SARS-CoV-2 and compared the therapeutic effects of 2-DG (the active ingredient in WP1122) alone with those of WP1122, a 2-DG prodrug. Importantly, the growth medium in this assay was carefully chosen to reflect the levels of glucose normally found in humans rather than the artificially high levels of glucose often used to accelerate in vitro testing.

"This additional testing was important for several reasons," said Walter Klemp, Chairman and CEO of Moleculin. "Having validation in yet another virus host cell line provides additional confidence in the antiviral activity we are seeing. Also, using a different independent lab from the last testing that was done provides further validation. We are also gaining confidence that in vitro testing results for this class of compounds are significantly affected by the concentration of natural glucose in the microenvironment present during viral replication and continued infection."

Based on feedback from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Company believes it may need to demonstrate activity in a COVID-19 animal model to successfully submit a request for Investigational New Drug (IND) status for WP1122. In addition, the Company has also contracted with IITRI to conduct preclinical toxicology testing, which is currently under way.

"We should also remind investors that WP1122 is just one compound in a broad portfolio of molecules in this class of antimetabolites. We are also testing other compounds in the portfolio against SARS-CoV-2 and other life-threatening viruses. We believe WP1122 is promising, but we also don't want to overlook additional opportunities to potentially provide new and better solutions to other viral diseases," Klemp said.