- Resonance Health (RHT) has applied for a provisional patent for novel Antisense Oligonucleotides (ASOs) in treating liver-related disease
- Antisense Oligonucleotides are short, single-stranded DNA molecules that interact with messenger RNA to prevent the translation of a targeted gene
- The novel ASOs were designed to target a host protein that enables human viruses such as Hepatitis B and C and HIV-1 to survive and spread
- The company is specifically investigating ASOs as a treatment for Chronic Hepatitis B, which globally affects roughly 250 million people
- Lab testing has so far shown the ASOs to significantly reduce the expression of the host protein in cells
- Resonance Health is planning major pre-clinical testing of a promising compound for Hepatitis B
- Company shares are up 5.88 per cent and are trading for 18 cents each
Resonance Health (RHT) has applied for a provisional patent for novel Antisense Oligonucleotides (ASOs) in treating liver-related disease,
Antisense Oligonucleotides are short, single-stranded DNA molecules that interact with messenger RNA to prevent the translation of a targeted gene.
The novel ASOs were designed to target a particular human (host) protein, which essential for a number of human viruses to survive and spread. In the liver, this protein supports the infectivity, growth and maturation of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1).
Resonance is also investigating the use of the ASOs as a treatment for Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) infection. While vaccination can prevent Hepatitis B, roughly 250 million people around the world are chronically infected. This includes an estimated 230,000 in Australia.
Up to 25 per cent of people with CHB die from cirrhosis, liver complications, or liver cancer so, given that current treatments are unable to fully eliminate the virus, this presents a dire and unmet need to find better medicines.
During laboratory testing, Resonance’s ASOs were shown to significantly reduce the expression of the host protein in HepG2 cells, a model cell-line which is commonly used in liver research.
Following more testing, Resonance Health plans to conduct pre-clinical testing of the “most promising compound(s)” in a humanised liver-mouse-model of HBV disease.
The company expects this will take up to 12 months and, if proven effective, Resonance will seek to commercially develop the lead compounds.
In addition to CHB, the company will collaborate with academic researchers to investigate the use of the novel ASOs to treat HIV-related viral hepatitis, for HCV and in those infected with two or more viruses.
Company shares are up 5.88 per cent and are trading for 18 cents each at 2:13 pm AEST.