BioCryst Pharmaceuticals designs, optimizes and develops novel small-molecule pharmaceuticals that block key enzymes involved in infectious diseases,inflammatory diseases and cancer.

BioCryst uses structure-based drug design, which incorporates multiple scientific disciplines including biology, crystallography, medicinal chemistry and computer modeling, in order to most efficiently develop new therapeutic candidates.

BioCryst has three novel late-stage compounds in development:

• Peramivir, a neuraminidase inhibitor being developed under a HHS/BARDA contract as an intravenously anti-viral for the potential treatment of influenza
• BCX4208, an purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) inhibitor in development as an add-on therapy for gout
• Forodesine, a PNP inhibitor for cancer

BioCryst’s Approach to Building its Product Pipeline

BioCryst designs drug candidates using detailed knowledge of the structures of active sites of targeted enzymes. The active site of an enzyme is the area into which a chemical or biological molecule fits to initiate a biochemical reaction. Enzymes make ideal drug targets as they mediate biochemical processes along disease pathways, are relatively easy to crystallize, and have small active sites. BioCryst aims to license or design compounds that will fit in the active sites of enzymes and thereby interfere with the progression of disease. Using this approach, the Company has successfully both licensed and designed product candidates for infectious diseases, cancer and inflammatory diseases.

Corporate & Academic Partnerships

The Company uses strategic partnerships early in the drug identification process through in-licensing of drug targets. BioCryst currently has collaborations with leading academic organizations including The University of Alabama at Birmingham and Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and Industrial Research, Ltd., New Zealand. We have established collaborative relationships for development and commercialization of product candidates in their respective territories as follows:

• Shionogi & Co., Ltd. for peramivir in Japan and Taiwan
• Green Cross Corporation for peramivir in Korea
• Mundipharma International Holdings Limited has worldwide rights to forodesine

For more information regarding corporate and academic partnerships visit our Partners & Business Development page.