“The innovative process created and developed by Dr. Bray played a critical role in the introduction of a new class of peptide-based AIDS/HIV therapeutics,” said M.C. Kang, Ph.D., senior vice president of development at Trimeris, Inc.
Peptides — compounds of two or more amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins — control numerous body processes and are a promising source of new drugs for treating many diseases. Prior to Bray’s discovery, complex peptides were difficult to produce in large, economical quantities.
Bray has developed a new approach to making one of these drugs, T-20 — a 36-amino acid peptide that works by blocking HIV before it enters cells — affordable and available to more patients. The process works by making small groups of peptide fragments and combining them to make a longer peptide chains such as T-20.
“The success of the T-20 process development will open a new chapter for the drug discovery community and demonstrates the value of peptides as therapeutics,” said Kang. According to the National Institutes of Health, as many as 900,000 Americans may be infected with HIV. Trimeris recently completed enrollment in two Phase III clinical trials to evaluate T-20 as an effective treatment for HIV.
The American Chemical Society’s Industrial Innovation Awards recognize individuals and teams whose discoveries and inventions contribute to the commercial success of their companies and enhance our quality of life.
Brian L. Bray, Ph.D., is senior director of process research and development at Trimeris, Inc. He received his B.S. in chemistry from Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa, in 1982 and his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Washington, Seattle, in 1987.