Southern Research has signed an agreement with Apath, LLC to conduct lab testing, research, and/or screening of potential therapeutic agents for hepatitis C (HCV) on an exclusive, fee-for-service basis using Apath’s HCV virus-based technology.

Using a virus-based system, researchers can now develop antiviral treatments targeting viral entry into the cell, all of the replication machinery, as well as downstream events such as viral assembly and release from the cell.

“Preclinical screening using a virus-based system will advance potential treatments for the disease because new therapies for HCV will be screened against the actual virus rather than a subset of the replication machinery,” said Andrew D. Penman, Ph.D. vice president of Drug Development at Southern Research. “We are very pleased to work with Dr. Rice, a world renowned HCV expert and offer this new service to our clients.”

“As part of our commitment to remaining the global leader in the sublicensing of HCV-related technologies, I am particularly pleased with the expansion of our contract services agreement with Southern Research Institute, and I am extremely encouraged by the potential of this business venture assisting our clients in the fight against hepatitis C,” said Robert M. Roth, Apath vice president, Strategic Operations.