AGOURON/JAPAN TOBACCO TARGETING ANTIVIRAL PROTEASE INHIBITORS

Executive Summary

AGOURON/JAPAN TOBACCO TARGETING ANTIVIRAL PROTEASE INHIBITORS for treatment of hepatitis C, herpes and rhinovirus under an expanded R&D collaboration announced Feb. 28. "Agouron and JT will design compounds intended to inactivate protease enzymes known to be required for replication of hepatitis C, viruses in the herpes family, and the rhinoviruses responsible for common upper respiratory infections," Agouron said. The two firms are collaborating on design and development of immunosuppressants under a December 1992 agreement ("The Pink Sheet" Dec. 21, 1992, T&G-8).