Discovery of inhibitors of Zika virus

PROJECT SUMMARY Novel inhibitors of Zika virusZIKVare urgently needed to prevent the occurrence of virus induced microcephaly and Guillain BarrsyndromeThe objective of this Phase I SBIR feasibility study is to identify drug like compounds that specifically inhibit ZIKV replicationDuring the course of this Phase I funding periodwe will execute hit finding campaign against a library ofcompounds with optimal drug like propertiesQuality hits that emerge from the assay will be subjected to follow on testing that will investigate the potencyselectivityand mechanism of actionThe most interesting of these compounds will be subjected to medicinal chemistry driven hit to lead to explore structure activity relationshipsSARThe overall goal of this project is to discover one or more novel lead series which is defined as a chemotype inhibitor that demonstrates tractable SARpotent antiviral activity against the available ZIKV strains and minimal cytotoxicitySuccess in these endeavors will trigger the submission of a Phase II application that will advance the program from Early Lead Optimization through to Candidate Selection