SCYNEXIS®

Pipeline Cyclophilin Inhibition

Cyclophilins are a family of enzymes that assist in the folding and transportation of other proteins synthesized within a cell. Protein folding or misfolding plays a central role in the pathophysiology of a number of serious diseases, such as viral infections and autoimmune diseases. While cyclophilin inhibitors have demonstrated their effect in immune suppression through the well-known drug, Cyclosporin, which has been used for decades for transplant patients, a growing body of scientific research has indicated that cyclosporin derivatives may have potent and highly specific non-immunosuppressive activity in multiple therapeutic areas. Pathways of assisted folding play a key role in creating functional proteins and represent an attractive target for drug discovery and development in serious viral diseases, central nervous system disorders and autoimmune diseases.