Proteologics granted first ubiquitin ligase siRNA patent

REHOVOT, Israel—Proteologics Inc. recently announced that it has been granted U.S. Patent No. 7,268,227 relating to its leading antiviral program. This patent broadly covers siRNA molecules that can inhibit the expression of Proteologics' antiviral drug target, hPOSH, a human protein that was characterized by Proteologics as a ubiquitin ligase essential for HIV biogenesis. Proteologics has antiviral drug discovery programs based on proprietary research of host-protein ubiquitin-ligase drug targets shown to be essential for the HIV life cycle. Proteologics' strategy is to target human pathways evolutionarily required for viral biogenesis to prevent completion of the viral life cycle in human cells. This new approach allows Proteologics to develop drugs that have not been previously encountered by viruses and may be more effective than current therapies against the emergence of viral resistance.