Medivir broadens its bone disease portfolio by designating one further Candidate Drug (CD), MIV-711

Medivir has deepened its presence, and expanded its commercial interest, in the therapeutic area of bone diseases by selecting a further candidate drug that targets the protease cathepsin K, a recognized drug target in this area. This builds on Medivir’s existing interest in bone related disorders which includes already one candidate drug and positive phase I experience from MIV-701. The new CD, MIV-711, is a highly active and selective, small molecule inhibitor with a distinguishable profile from that of the MIV-710, a CD selected in February 2009. The decision to select this additional CD from Medivir’s broad cathepsin K program was taken to enable Medivir to extend into additional indications of significant market potential, which include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and metastatic bone disease. Both MIV-711 and MIV-710 are expected to be dosed QD (once daily) in tablet form and at low doses. In light of these compounds' favorable efficacy and pharmacokinetic properties, they are being prioritized for clinical development over MIV-701, which will be discontinued. Therapeutic opportunities The main clinical indications for cathepsin K inhibitors are osteoporosis, OA (osteoarthritis), RA (rheumatoid arthritis) and metastatic bone disease. Osteoporosis (brittle bones) arises from an imbalance between bone formation and resorption where the equilibrium is skewed towards excessive bone loss. There is a large unmet medical need for new and improved treatments that can regulate and suppress the progression of pathological bone erosion. Osteoporosis is the second largest health problem in the world and a major cause of death, disability and medical expenditure. The current dominating treatments are the bisphosphonates and oestrogen receptor modulators.