Single-stranded positive-sense RNA viruses account for a large number of clinically serious global pathogens and are the cause of many potentially life-threatening diseases: coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, hepatitis C, dengue, RSV, yellow fever, Ebola, Zika, West Nile, and encephalitis viruses.
The activity of a key viral enzyme, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, also known as RNA polymerase, is required for replication and propagation of these viruses. The structure of this enzyme is highly conserved across RNA viruses. Most viral RNA polymerases have been identified on the basis of comparative sequence analysis, but it is important to know that viral genome replication is initiated by two different and distinct mechanisms.
Nucleic acids are composed of naturally occurring chemical compounds termed nucleosides and nucleotides and are the main information-carrying molecules of the cell that determine the inherited characteristics of human and viral genetic material by directing the process of protein synthesis. The two main classes of nucleic acids are DNA and RNA. Nucleos(t)ide analogs are synthetic compounds that mimic the structure of naturally occurring nucleosides and nucleotides that target the viral polymerase directly so that it mistakenly incorporates these analogs into nascent nucleic acids, causing inhibition of viral replication. Nucleos(t)ide analogs, compared to other classes of antiviral therapies, have a high barrier to viral resistance due to the conservation of the structure of the polymerase that is required to produce viable virions.
Prodrugs are biologically inactive compounds which are employed to improve drug delivery, bypass rate limiting activation steps, decrease toxicity, and improve the oral bioavailability and permeation of cell membranes by the nucleos(t)ide analog. Prodrugs of nucleos(t)ide analogs have become the backbone of single-drug and combination-drug therapies to treat life threatening viral infections, including HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
A platform of proprietary purine nucleos(t)ide prodrugs designed specifically to target viral RNA polymerase.
Nucleos(t)ide drugs are well suited for mono- and combination treatment regimens.
Treatment of most RNA viral diseases require combination regimens to prevent drug resistance.
HCV
SARS-CoV-2 and Future Coronaviruses
Atea is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing oral therapies to address the unmet medical needs of patients with serious viral infections. Currently, Atea is focused on the development of orally-available antiviral agents for serious viral infections, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19, and hepatitis C virus (HCV).
Atea is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to addressing unmet medical needs through novel antiviral treatments.
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