Atea Pharmaceuticals Showcases Antiviral Potential of AT-587 and AT-2490

Atea Pharmaceuticals announced in vitro results showing that two proprietary oral nucleotide analogs, AT-587 and AT-2490, exhibit promising antiviral profiles as potential first-in-class inhibitors for the treatment of Hepatitis E virus infection, a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus that primarily infects liver cells. These results were presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, taking place February 22-25 in Denver, Colorado. In vitro studies demonstrated that AT-587 and AT-2490 were potent inhibitors of HEV replication. AT-587 and AT-2490 were 30-150-fold more potent against HEV compared to sofosbuvir and ribavirin. Analyses showed the two compounds were also active against other viruses, including all flaviviruses tested, rubella and chikungunya. Antiviral activity of AT-587 and AT-2490 in the tissue of interest -- human liver cells -- was indicated by the formation of high amounts of active metabolite of each compound. Neither compound showed any toxicity. In January, Atea announced the selection of AT-587 as the lead product candidate for the HEV clinical program and plans to initiate a Phase 1 program mid-year. "We are excited to share these preclinical results at CROI showing the potent activity and promising in vitro safety profiles of AT-2490 and AT-587, our HEV product candidate. These results underscore the potential of AT-587 as a first-in-class direct acting antiviral for HEV," said Jean-Pierre Sommadossi, PhD, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Atea. "With no antivirals currently marketed for HEV, AT-587 has the potential to address a significant unmet need for a treatment option for patients with chronic HEV infection who are immunocompromised or at high risk for rapid progression to cirrhosis. We look forward to advancing AT-587 to a Phase 1 program mid-year."