Cocrystal Discovery

About Cocrystal Discovery

Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that directs its resources toward the discovery and development of novel antiviral therapeutics. The company was established in 2008 as Cocrystal Discovery, Inc. by Gary Wilcox, Ph.D., Roger Kornberg, Ph.D., and Sam Lee, Ph.D. The founding was followed by a $10 million private placement from an investor group led by The Frost Group.

The founders brought together significant experience in the biotechnology industry. Gary Wilcox had over 25 years of experience, including his role as Executive Vice President of Operations at Icos Corporation. Roger Kornberg, a professor at Stanford University, was the recipient of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work in structural biology. Sam Lee previously led drug discovery teams at Icos Corporation and conducted postdoctoral work at Stanford University focused on viral replication enzymes. In 2014, Cocrystal went public through a reverse merger and later that year merged with RFS Pharma, a company founded by Dr. Raymond Schinazi, a notable figure in nucleoside chemistry.

The company's core technology is a proprietary, structure-based drug discovery platform. This platform utilizes structural biology, enzymology, and medicinal chemistry to design small-molecule antiviral agents. A key feature is the technology's ability to provide a 3D structure of inhibitor complexes at near-atomic resolution, which guides the structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies and helps in identifying novel binding sites on viral enzymes. This approach is intended to accelerate the development of antiviral compounds.

Cocrystal's business model is centered on advancing its drug candidates through clinical trials to treat viral diseases with significant market potential. Its revenue generation is anticipated from the successful commercialization of its therapeutics, potentially through partnerships or licensing agreements, such as a 2019 deal with Merck to develop antiviral agents against influenza. The company serves the global healthcare market by developing treatments for widespread viral infections. The product pipeline includes candidates for influenza, norovirus, and coronaviruses. Specifically, CC-42344 is a broad-spectrum antiviral candidate for treating pandemic and seasonal influenza A, which has completed a Phase 1 study and is proceeding to Phase 2a. Another candidate, CDI-988, is a novel protease inhibitor being developed for norovirus and coronavirus infections.