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Windhover's Therapeutic Area Partnerships conference, to be held Nov. 2-4 in Boston, will feature top unpartnered candidates in major therapeutic areas. Paul Zhang of Easton Associates selected top candidates for the Infectious Diseases track based on their innovative approach and solid clinical data.
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Hepatitis C
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Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
New Haven, Conn.
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ACH-1625, protease inhibitor with potential for once-daily dosing
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Good safety profile is a real plus in this category, where side effects are a big compliance problem
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Phase II
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GlobeImmune, Inc.
Louisville, Colo.
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GI-5005, therapeutic vaccine generates an HCV-specific T-cell response
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Biomarker shows the therapy is effective at clearing the virus from patients whose genetic status predicts little chance for complete recovery
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Phase II
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Scynexis, Inc.
Research Triangle Park, N.C.
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SCY-635, oral cyclophilin inhibitor interferes with viral replication
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Synergistic activity with standard of care and protease inhibitors in development qualify it for inclusion in a cocktail approach that hits strains other than HCV-1
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Phase II
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HIV/AIDS
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Argos Therapeutics, Inc.
Durham, N.C.
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AGS-004, personalized immunotherapy isolates viral RNA from patient's pre-ART plasma, then loads it into highly engineer dendritic cells that trigger a specific immune response
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May allow patients to take a holiday from antiretroviral therapy without rebound and even lower their viral load
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Phase II
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Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Tarrytown, N.Y.
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PRO 140, monoclonal antibody targets CCR5 receptor on T-cells
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Inhibits HIV cell entry at concentrations that may not impede the receptor's natural immune system activity, and it's not metabolized by the liver
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Phase II
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Sangamo Biosciences, Inc.
Richmond, Calif.
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SB-728-T, personalized cell product with CD4+ T-cells modified using zinc finger nuclease technology
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Cells with modified CCR5 gene resist HIV infection and are able to fight opportunistic infections
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Phase I
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Antibiotics
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Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
San Diego, Calif.
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Fidaxomicin, macrocyclic antibiotic inhibits bacteria's RNA polymerase
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Selectively targets Clostridium difficile and may prevent recurrence of the increasingly common and sometimes fatal hospital acquired GI disease
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Rolling NDA underway
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Theravance, Inc.
South San Francisco, Calif.
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TD-1792, glycopeptide-cephalosporin heterodimer antibiotic
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Could fill the need for a new antibiotic effective against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
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Phase II
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Vaccines
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VaxInnate, Inc.
Cranbury, N.J.
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VAX-125, proof of concept vaccine links the H1 Solomon Island hemagglutinin (HA) antigen to flagellin, a bacterial protein that activates Toll-like receptors to enhance potency at low doses
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Technology uses recombinant bacteria to produce vaccine antigen linked with flagellin to provide the H1 component of a trivalent seasonal flu vaccine quickly and inexpensively
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Phase II
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Dynavax Technologies Corp.
Berkeley, Calif.
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Heplisav, hepatitis B vaccine boosted with a Toll-like receptor-agonist
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For high-value adult populations that are less responsive it offers increased, rapid protection with fewer doses than current licensed vaccines
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Phase III
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