T. Bowlin, R. Gauthier, I. Hussein
Microbiotix, Inc., Massachusetts, United States
Keywords: antiviral, pandemic, respiratory, warfighter, virus, adenovirus, preparedness
Recently emerged respiratory human adenovirus types (HAdV-55/21/14/3) are contributing to the high burden of respiratory tract infection-related morbidity and mortality in both military and civilian populations. Currently available adenovirus vaccines only provide protection against subtypes 4/7 and offer little/no protection against other types. Emerging respiratory human adenoviruses (i) have caused epidemic outbreaks with appreciable morbidity/mortality; (ii) have become endemic; (iii) have infected US military active-duty personnel; (iv) have no medical countermeasures. Importantly, HAdVs possess the characteristics of potential pandemic pathogens: (i) a respiratory borne virus that easily spreads from person to person with a high degree of morbidity/mortality; (ii) documented epidemic outbreaks, with appreciable fatality rates; (iii) novel adenoviruses with high attack rates and high prevalence of pneumonia arise regularly through recombination (e.g. HAdV-B55) and re-emergence (e.g. HAdV-B14); (iv) zoonosis has been demonstrated in multiple species. Filociclovir (Phase 1 clinical trials completed), is a potent pan-adenoviral inhibitor with the potential to be a simple, safe and efficacious oral treatment for emerging adenoviral respiratory infections. The potential to further perturb military readiness and for a global transmission event is high. Development of treatment and prophylactic countermeasures would positively impact the health of the Warfighter, US military preparedness and US/global pandemic preparedness.