Clinical-stage biotechnology company PharmAust Limited (ASX:PAA) has executed a Research Services Agreement with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI), Melbourne to investigate the effects of monepantel (MPL) upon human T-lymphotrophic virus-1 (HTLV-1) infections in vitro.
The virus can cause a type of cancer called adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATL) and is transmitted primarily through infected bodily fluids including blood and breast milk.
Approximately 10 to 20 million people worldwide are infected with HTLV-1 with high recorded incidence in Japan. Several central Australian indigenous populations have infection rates of over 60%. Infection is associated with pulmonary disease, inflammatory disorders and, in some cases, a rapidly progressive leukaemia/lymphoma. In 10% of patients serious morbidities and mortality is observed.
This work follows upon PharmAust’s COVID-19 programme, aiming to broaden the scope of targets for MPL’s potential antiviral activity. The study of HTLV-1 is of particular significance due to the readily available nature of highly and particularly relevant in vitro and in vivopreclinical virus infection models, potentially providing PharmAust with further data to support future human trials.
PharmAust’s Chief Scientific Officer, Dr Richard Mollard, said, like the COVID-19 work, the HTLV-1 work will be conducted at WEHI by a group led by Professor Marc Pellegrini. Work will commence upon cell lines in culture. Dependent upon outcomes and subsequent agreement, the group aims to then move to in vivopreclinical models. The fee payable under the agreement is not material to the company. Preliminary data are anticipated in December 2021.
PharmAust is pleased to have the opportunity to work again with Professor Marc Pellegrini’s group at the WEHI,” Dr Mollard said.
“While PharmAust continues MPL manufacture and tablet production for clinical trials, this work provides an excellent opportunity to build our MPL antiviral knowledge base. While our COVID-19 work is ongoing, having a more extensive preclinical data package describing MPL’s antiviral activity in more general terms would strengthen PharmAust’s position going into any antiviral clinical trial, including for COVID-19.”
HTLV-1, like HIV the causative agent for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), is an oncogenic (cancer inducing) virus that targets the immune system.