One of the most pressing unmet needs in global health is the treatment and prevention of mosquito and other vector-borne diseases such as dengue fever.
Dengue is a significant concern in certain populations around the world, infecting an estimated 390 million people annually.
Stealthy killer
The challenge is compounded because some 30-50% of those infected do not present with symptoms and this means the virus can spread stealthily within communities.
This threat is further exacerbated by the warming global climate, which is expanding the reach of mosquito-borne viruses, potentially bringing them to regions where they have not yet taken hold, like the US, Europe and Australia.
The current medical landscape for dengue fever is bleak, with no specific pharmaceutical treatments available and a vaccine that is accessible only to a limited population. There is an urgent need for effective therapeutic solutions.
Enter Island Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:ILA), a drug research and repurposing company dedicated to developing preventative and therapeutic drugs to address infectious disease.
At the core of Island Pharmaceuticals' strategy is the repurposing of an existing small molecule.
This molecule, Island’s lead asset ISLA-101, was originally developed by the company’s wholly owned subsidiary Isla Pharmaceuticals.
Repurposing cost-effective and time-efficient
It’s a pre-existing drug with a well-documented clinical history and safety profile and it’s now being re-engineered as an anti-viral for the prevention and treatment of dengue fever and other mosquito and vector-borne diseases.
The versatility of ISLA-101 lies in its unique mechanism of targeting the interaction between viral and host proteins, a common pathway in many mosquito-borne viruses.
Looking beyond dengue fever, the Island has ambitious plans for the ISLA-101 platform.
The company aims to test it in Phase 2 clinical trials as a broad-spectrum preventative or treatment option for a range of serious mosquito-borne infections, including Zika, Yellow River Fever, Japanese Encephalitis and West Nile virus.
The repurposing business model employed by Island Pharmaceuticals streamlines the drug development process by leveraging the existing data and safety profile of ISLA-101 to accelerate its path to clinical application.
It promises to be a game-changer in preventing the spread of these diseases around the world.
This strategy not only reduces development time and cost but also uses the vast amount of existing data to navigate the regulatory landscape efficiently.
And by repurposing ISLA-101, Island Pharmaceuticals is not just developing a drug; it is contributing to a global effort to combat a pervasive and escalating health challenge.
With its cost-effective and innovative pipeline and a focused clinical strategy, the company is poised to make a considerable impact on global health.