Based on the unique and beneficial attributes of Avila’s covalent drugs, which include increased selectivity, enhanced pharmacodynamics and mutational resistance, the Company is developing a deep and broad pipeline focused on therapeutic areas which have considerable unmet medical need as it relates to these powerful benefits. Avila's developing pipeline is currently focused on oncology, infectious diseases, and autoimmune diseases. In the area of viral disease, Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is of primary interest, with a leading program centered on inhibitors of HCV protease. Oncology and autoimmune programs are currently directed towards validated kinase targets.

HCV Protease (NS3)

Hepatitis C is a viral infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus (“HCV”). HCV infection causes severe liver disease and can lead to liver cancer. The World Health Organization estimates that 170 million people worldwide are chronically infected with HCV and 3-4 million are newly infected each year. The current standard of care is only effective in approximately half of infected individuals, but clinical studies have validated the NS3 protease, a protein encoded by the virus, as an important target of pharmaceutical intervention for vastly improved outcomes. Avila’s covalent approach to silencing the NS3 protein has resulted in a product candidate with a potential best-in-class profile due to superior duration of action, breadth of activity against multiple HCV genotypes, and the ability to retain potency against clinically-arising resistance mutations.

Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase (Btk)

Btk is a phosphate-transferring protein known as a kinase and that is present in the antibody-producing white blood cells called B cells. Btk plays a critical role in the development and activation of B cells, and its inhibition will be of therapeutic significance in the treatment of both of B cell cancers and autoimmune diseases. Avila is developing a covalent drug that silences Btk with great selectivity, long duration of action and that has demonstrated efficacy in models of diseases in which B cells play a primary role.

Avila has numerous additional programs that are exploring the application of Avilomics™ and the covalent approach to silencing disease targets. These programs are developing drug candidates across a variety of protein classes and disease targets.

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