Primmune Therapeutics has selected PRTX007 as its lead clinical development candidate for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) and for oncology indications.

“PRTX007 is an oral small molecule that specifically activates toll-like receptor 7 (“TLR7″) which drives the innate immune system’s primary response to viral infections,” said James Appleman, Ph.D., Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Primmune Therapeutics. “PRTX007 was derived from Primmune’s extensive TLR7 agonist discovery program and has demonstrated sustained dose-dependent innate immune induction in vivo without the production of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 or TNF alpha. We believe these features are optimal for acute and long-term therapy.”

To support these efforts, Sheldon Morris, M.D., MPH, Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and the Division of Family Medicine, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego has joined the company’s clinical advisory board to advise on the trial designs for SARS-CoV-2 infections.