Michellamine Antiviral Agents, Compositions, And Treatment Methods
Description of Invention:
Michellamines, structurally novel naphthalene tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids, are a new class of antiviral compounds present in the plant Ancistrocladus korupensis. The Ancitrocladaceae is a small paleotropical family, with 20 species known from Asia and tropical Africa. A. korupensis contains three distinct michellamines, A, B, and C. Michellamine B, the most prevalent and potent of the three, is capable of inhibiting two distinct stages of the HIV life cycle. The compound is able to inhibit HIV-induced cell killing of infected cells but has no direct virucidal effect on HIV virions or initial binding of HIV to target cells. In addition, michellamine B inhibits the enzymatic activity of both the normal HIV reverse transcriptase and the activity of several mutant transcriptases which are resistant to several nonnucleoside inhibitors. The claims of this invention relate to michellamine compounds and derivatives, methods for the isolation of the michellamines from A. korupensis, and methods for the administration of these antiviral compounds for treating patients infected with HIV. Licensees of this invention will be required to comport with all applicable federal and country-of-collection policies relating to biodiversity.
For Additional Information Please Contact: Sally Hu PhD MBA
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301) 435-5606
Email: hus@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301) 402-0220
