Compositions Useful for Treating Herpes Simplex Keratitis, and Methods Using Same
Overview
Drexel researchers have discovered a new mechanism to suppress or limit herpes keratitis (HK) infection and related blindness in HK patients. This mechanism operates unlike current treatments in the industry, suppresses viral replication more than polymerase inhibitors alone, and is less likely to lead to viral resistance.
Applications
- Suppression of herpes keratitis (HK) infection and related blindness in HK infected patients.
Advantages
- Proven to inhibit HSV infection. Treatment with the ATM inhibitor has significantly reduced viral replication and infectious particle production in human corneal epithelial cells and intact explanted human corneas.
- Acts differently than current HSV treatments. This approach offers a different target than current HSV drugs, decreasing the chances of viral resistance and allowing for combination therapy with established antivirals.
- Effective against drug-resistant HSV strains. The acyclovir-resistant strain of HSV was effectively suppressed using the ATM inhibitor; this capability is likely to apply to all other drug-resistant strains of HSV, as well as other Herpesviruses.
Intellectual Property and Development Status
United States Patent Pending- 15/347,122
References
Alekseev O, Donovan K, and J Azizkhan-Clifford (2013). Inhibition of Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM) Kinase Suppresses Herpes Simplex Type 1 (HSV-1) Keratitis. IOVS (in review).