Problem

There is little need to describe the impact of COVID-19, yet other viruses have caused similar suffering for years. The annual worldwide death toll for HIV, Hepatitis B, and influenza alone hovers around 3,000,000.

Solution

Eradivir specializes in the discovery and development of dual-action antiviral drugs. These drugs simultaneously inhibit reproduction of the targeted virus and redirect the immune system to destroy the virus and the virus-infected host cells. This small molecule or “miniBIT” technology provides a flexible platform that can effectively treat the majority of pathologic viruses, including influenza, multiple coronaviruses, hepatitis B, HIV and RSV.

Market

Even before COVID-19, the global antiviral drug market was valued at USD 49.87 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach USD 71.48 billion by the year 2026, at a CAGR of 4.6%. Because of limited effective options, five of the top seven most successful drug launches of all time, in terms of first-year sales, were antiviral drugs.

Competition

Vaccines are critical in preventing viral infection, but most treatment options are either large antibodies that elicit an immune response or small molecules that inhibit viral reproduction. Eradivir’s small molecule solutions do both. Eradivir’s lead molecule for influenza treats all subtypes of both human influenza A & B viruses and, in animal models, has demonstrated several advantages over influenza drugs currently on the market, including promoting a quicker recovery, even after delaying treatment well beyond the standard 48 hours from the appearance of symptoms, eliminating concerns over the development of drug resistance and reducing the number of doses required to achieve complete cures to a single dose.

Business Model

It is Eradivir’s plan to exit by the time human efficacy and safety is demonstrated in one or more of its drugs. Over the past 10 years, 90% and 80% of all hepatitis B and influenza deals were completed by the end of successful phase 2 trials. In 2018 J&J entered a licensing deal worth $3.7B with Arrowhead for the rights to their hepatitis B drug, then in a phase 1/2 clinical trial.

Process to Date

Eradivir’s influenza drug has been successfully tested in animal models and will complete a phase 1/2 clinical trial in humans by the end of 2023. The hepatitis B drug will complete a phase 1/2 trial a year later. Currently, Eradivir is locking up the intellectual property for their “minibite” technology across most viruses.

Team

Eradivir technology is based on research conducted by Dr. Philip Low’s lab at Purdue University and is one of seven of his companies. His initial company Endocyte sold to Novartis for $2.1B and his second company, On Target, which he co-founded with Eradivir’s current CEO, Marty Low, has one drug that has been filed with the FDA for approval (NDA) and another in phase 3 clinical trials.