A NEW TREATMENT PARADIGM
targeting viral mediated immune
response in fibromyalgia (FM)
ABOUT VIRIOS
Virios Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing and commercializing innovative antiviral therapies to treat diseases associated with a viral triggered abnormal immune response, such as fibromyalgia (FM). Overactive immune response related to activation of tissue resident Herpes Simplex Virus-1 (HSV-1) has been postulated to be a potential root cause of chronic illnesses such as FM, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and functional somatic syndrome, all of which are characterized by a waxing and waning manifestation of disease.
The company is led by an executive team highly experienced in the successful development of therapies
for FM. Its lead candidate, IMC-1, was granted fast track designation by the FDA.
ABOUT IMC-1
Our Novel Approach to Treating Virally Mediated Fibromyalgia (FM)
Patients with FM have a problem with central pain processing. The exact causality of the heightened pain sensitivity in FM is poorly understood. What is generally agreed is that the central sensitization seen in FM is secondary to a combination of genetic and environmental factors that render the patient susceptible to developing the widespread chronic pain and related symptoms seen in FM. We believe that, when FM patients are exposed to significant life stressors, be they physical or emotional, it results in an abnormal stress which activates herpes virus mediated-immune response. Herpes viruses are unique in that they remain in a dormant state (latency) in neuronal nuclei as nonintegrated, circular DNA associated with nucleosomes, with recurrent reactivations for the life of the host (as seen here). We believe it is likely that nerve resident viral herpetic reactivation is necessary for the waxing and waning nociceptive manifestation of FM. This cyclical process of virus reactivation and lytic infection of HSV-1 is postulated to perpetuate FM symptoms in these patients.
ABOUT FIBROMYALGIA
Fibromyalgia is a common musculoskeletal condition that causes chronic, widespread pain and fatigue and is potentially disabling. It is often accompanied by a consistent “cluster” of symptomatic concomitant conditions (eg, chronic pain, fatigue, joint stiffness abdominal pain, altered bowel movements, and headaches) that suggest they share an underlying pathophysiology.
Unmet Medical Need
Despite a very high disease burden, just
over one in two (56%) patients currently diagnosed with FM are actively being treated with prescription medication. Furthermore, the three medicines approved to treat FM can give rise to a side-effect burden which limits their use. Even presently treated patients often have to manage the sub-optimal outcomes associated with using unapproved and/or potentially harmful medications to manage their FM disease.
For example, almost 40% of FM patients
are treated with opioids, despite well-established addictive properties, as well
as published references highlighting worse treatment outcomes for opioid-treated patients.
Synergy
Our novel therapeutic is directed at interrupting the ongoing immune response by suppressing HSV-1, which suppresses the abnormal stress response, thereby alleviating the central pain processing abnormality and other FM symptoms. Studies have shown that neither antivirals nor COX-2/nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (“NSAIDS”) taken alone result in a meaningful clinical benefit. However, when
administered in combination, a synergistic response has been observed in preliminary clinical studies. The IMC-1 Phase 2a study generated proof-of-concept evidence of clinically significant pain reduction and
symptom alleviation through the coaction of the proprietary, fixed-dose combination of celecoxib and famciclovir.
Failed antiviral monotherapy - Kendall et al.
Failed NSAID monotherapy - Derry et al.
Opportunity
IMC-1’s antiviral mechanism represents an approach that can be directed at FM, IBS and CFS patents, as well as Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD). These additional chronic conditions represent
a substantially larger market opportunity. The below listed SSD conditions are all chronic pain-related conditions that may be responsive to treatment with IMC-1.
1. Fibromyalgia
2. Irritable Bowel Syndrome
3. Chronic Pelvic Pain
4. Chronic Neck and Back Pain
5. Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ)
6. Frequent Headaches
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