Rather than targeting viral proteins, Alios
BioPharma Inc. is using three platform technologies to develop
antivirals that target the human immune system. The company believes its
compounds will thus have broad-spectrum activity and be less vulnerable to
viral resistance than other antiviral approaches.
Its lead programs are based
upon RNase L technology, which has allowed Alios to solve problems previously
encountered by efforts to develop ligands for the enzyme, including poor
stability or inability to penetrate cell membranes.