Adibelivir

Adibelivir
Identifiers
  • 2-[4-(2,5-Difluorophenyl)phenyl]-N-methyl-N-[4-methyl-5-(methylsulfonimidoyl)-1,3-thiazol-2-yl]acetamide
CAS Number
PubChem CID
ChemSpider
UNII
ChEMBL
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC20H19F2N3O2S2
Molar mass435.51 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • CC1=C(SC(=N1)N(C)C(=O)CC2=CC=C(C=C2)C3=C(C=CC(=C3)F)F)[S@@](=N)(=O)C
  • InChI=1S/C20H19F2N3O2S2/c1-12-19(29(3,23)27)28-20(24-12)25(2)18(26)10-13-4-6-14(7-5-13)16-11-15(21)8-9-17(16)22/h4-9,11,23H,10H2,1-3H3/t29-/m0/s1
  • Key:JDZTWDISDHLKCR-LJAQVGFWSA-N

Adibelivir, also known as IM-250, is an anti-herpetic drug candidate developed by Innovative Molecules Gmbh. The drug was conceived by a chemist at the company, who hypothesized that swapping the sulfonamide functional group of pritelivir for a sulfoximine would reduce off-target effects. In addition, the pyridine ring on pritelivir was changed to a 2,5-difluorobenzene ring to make the drug candidate more likely to enter the central nervous system as herpes can lie dormant within neurons.

Innovative Molecules raised 20 million euro for clinical trials on humans.

Clinical development

In June 2023, Innovative Molecules announced that the first subjects had been dosed in a German Phase 1 clinical trial of adibelivir.

By January 2026, the company announced completion of its Phase 1 clinical development program and advancement into Phase 2 clinical testing for recurrent genital herpes.

Mechanism of action

Adibelivir is a helicase-primase inhibitor, which interferes with viral DNA replication.

Partnerships and licensing

In January 2026, Innovative Molecules entered a strategic licensing agreement with Italian pharmaceutical company it for development of a parenteral formulation of adibelivir, for the treatment of HSV encephalitis.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Gege C, Bravo FJ, Uhlig N, Hagmaier T, Schmachtenberg R, Elis J, et al. (June 2021). "A helicase-primase drug candidate with sufficient target tissue exposure affects latent neural herpes simplex virus infections". Science Translational Medicine. 13 (598) eabf8668. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.abf8668. PMID 34135112.
  2. ↑ Blog S (17 June 2021). "Drug Candidate Shows 'Potent Anti-Herpes Activity'". Research Horizons.
  3. ↑ Halford B (21 January 2025). "Small molecule fights active and latent herpes infections in rodents". Chemical & Engineering News. American Chemical Society.
  4. ↑ Lücking U (October 2022). "New Opportunities for the Utilization of the Sulfoximine Group in Medicinal Chemistry from the Drug Designer's Perspective". Chemistry – A European Journal. 28 (56) e202201993. Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany. Bibcode:2022ChEuJ..28E1993L. doi:10.1002/chem.202201993. PMID 35789054.
  5. ↑ "Innovative Molecules Announces First Subjects Dosed in the German Phase 1 Clinical Trial of IM-250 - Innovative Molecules". www.innovativemolecules.com. Retrieved 2026-05-10.
  6. ↑ Innovative Molecules GmbH (2024-10-22). Phase I Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of Single Doses of IM-250 in Healthy Volunteers (Report). clinicaltrials.gov.
  7. ↑ "Innovative Molecules Announces Completion of Phase 1 Program and Advancement to Phase 2 for Oral Adibelivir - Innovative Molecules". www.innovativemolecules.com. Retrieved 2026-05-10.
  8. ↑ Kääb G (2026-01-15). "Munich's Innovative Molecules signs €125M partnership with Alfasigma to advance HSV encephalitis antiviral". European Biotechnology Magazine. Retrieved 2026-05-10.