Technology Focus

What is our technology?
Erimos has exclusive rights to a portfolio of small molecules for their use in various diseases. From this portfolio, Erimos is developing new therapeutics to treat cancer, as well as viral and autoimmune diseases. Terameprocol, our lead product in development, is drawn from a class of compounds preventing tumor cell replication and promoting selective tumor cell death, or apoptosis. The drug is designed specifically to target abnormal tumor cells while causing little or no toxicity to healthy cells. Terameprocol also shows anti-viral effects against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), and human papillomavirus (HPV) and reduces cell proliferation and certain harmful cellular responses to viral infection.

Terameprocol is the synthetic tetra-methylated derivative of nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA). Erimos has developed a novel process to extract NDGA from the resin of the leaves of Larrea tridentata, a desert bush indigenous to the southwestern US and Mexico. The chemical structure of terameprocol was designed to make it pharmacologically distinct from NDGA.

Where is terameprocol in its development?
Erimos is focusing development efforts on its lead compound, terameprocol. Terameprocol is being evaluated in formulations targeting specific disease areas:

A Phase I clinical study administering terameprocol intravenously to patients with metastatic solid tumors not responding to standard therapies has completed enrollment. Additional Phase I studies are being initiated this year to explore alternative dosing schedules and other cancer populations. (Please see the “Clinical Trials” page for more detailed information)

As an intravaginal formulation, terameprocol has been evaluated for treatment of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN). CIN is a very common disease, occurring in 1-2% of the US population and associated in 99% of cases with human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. After infection with HPV, dysplasia of the cervical cells may occur, which may in time progress to CIN lesions that are clearly associated in some patients with progression to cancer. A Phase II pilot clinical study has demonstrated encouraging results for this indication.