An accomplished clinical researcher with experience in academic and clinical medicine as well as pharmaceutical research, Robert Hindes, MD, is the co-founder and chief medical officer of Trek Therapeutics. Robert Hindes, MD, guides all clinical activities for the Cambridge, Massachusetts based pharmaceutical company, which works to develop and commercialize affordable medications for the treatment of infectious diseases in under-served populations.
As the first step in its mission to expand global access to treatments for life-threatening diseases, Trek Therapeutics (TREKtx) set its sights on hepatitis C virus (HCV), which affects over 135 million people around the world. Often left undiagnosed, HCV is a leading cause of potentially fatal liver conditions, including cirrhosis and cancer.
Fortunately, TREKtx has made strides toward development of a highly effective regimen with the recent progression of its Faldaprevir plus TD-6450 clinical trial. TD-6450 is a multivalent NS5A inhibitor originally developed by Theravance Biopharma. The drug is designed to block the activity of the NS5A protein, which drives the replication of HCV and offers improved antiviral properties when compared to first-generation NS5A inhibitors.
In October 2015, Theravance entered into an agreement with TREKtx that provided exclusive clinical license for TD-6450, granting the firm permission to develop, manufacture, and sell the NS5A inhibitor. Following this licensure, TREKtx launched its first phase 2a clinical trial investigating the combination of TD-6450, ribavirin, and and the HCV protease inhibitor, faldaprevir. Trek Therapeutics has tested the efficacy of the combined HCV treatment on patients with HCV genotype 4 living in the United States.
Commenting on the ongoing clinical trial, Theravance Biopharma senior vice president of research and development Dr. Mathai Mammen expressed his firm’s enthusiasm at the launch of the phase 2a clinical trial. He noted that TD-6450 showed great promise during the phase 1 trial, exhibiting strong antiviral properties in patients with HCV genotype 1, and could potentially improve outcomes for patients with HCV when combined with additional antiviral drugs.
As the first step in its mission to expand global access to treatments for life-threatening diseases, Trek Therapeutics (TREKtx) set its sights on hepatitis C virus (HCV), which affects over 135 million people around the world. Often left undiagnosed, HCV is a leading cause of potentially fatal liver conditions, including cirrhosis and cancer.
Fortunately, TREKtx has made strides toward development of a highly effective regimen with the recent progression of its Faldaprevir plus TD-6450 clinical trial. TD-6450 is a multivalent NS5A inhibitor originally developed by Theravance Biopharma. The drug is designed to block the activity of the NS5A protein, which drives the replication of HCV and offers improved antiviral properties when compared to first-generation NS5A inhibitors.
In October 2015, Theravance entered into an agreement with TREKtx that provided exclusive clinical license for TD-6450, granting the firm permission to develop, manufacture, and sell the NS5A inhibitor. Following this licensure, TREKtx launched its first phase 2a clinical trial investigating the combination of TD-6450, ribavirin, and and the HCV protease inhibitor, faldaprevir. Trek Therapeutics has tested the efficacy of the combined HCV treatment on patients with HCV genotype 4 living in the United States.
Commenting on the ongoing clinical trial, Theravance Biopharma senior vice president of research and development Dr. Mathai Mammen expressed his firm’s enthusiasm at the launch of the phase 2a clinical trial. He noted that TD-6450 showed great promise during the phase 1 trial, exhibiting strong antiviral properties in patients with HCV genotype 1, and could potentially improve outcomes for patients with HCV when combined with additional antiviral drugs.
