HEPATITIS C TREATMENT ADVANCES INTO PRECLINICAL STAGE

Genelabs Technologies today announced that a non-nucleoside compound from its internal hepatitis C virus (HCV) drug discovery program has advanced into preclinical development.

The compound, designated GL60667, is the second Genelabs non-nucleoside compound to advance into preclinical development. Genelabs also announced that the company has further advanced GL59728, its first non-nucleoside preclinical development candidate. Genelabs plans to initiate good laboratory practices (GLP) preclinical studies on GL59728, which, if successful, would enable the company to file an investigational new drug application (IND) for the compound. Genelabs retains all commercial rights to its non-nucleoside compounds.

The concentration of GL60667 that is effective in reducing HCV replication is more than 100 times lower than the concentration that causes toxicity to various human cell lines, as demonstrated in a battery of tests conducted by Genelabs.