Traws Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:TRAW), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies for critical global viral threats, today announced the advancement of a novel proprietary broad-spectrum combination anti-viral agent in its portfolio. The investigational combination utilizes a unique "dual-strike" mechanism of action that hijacks host cell pathways to force viral eradication. Importantly, both components of the combination have been safely evaluated in human studies as single agents.

Viruses rely entirely on cellular infrastructure to replicate and are dependent on the host cell's internal nucleotide pools. Traws Pharma's novel combination therapy exploits this dependency through a coordinated, synergistic approach:

Host Nucleotide Depletion: One component dynamically drains the host cell's natural nucleotide supply, creating a localized state of nucleotide starvation.
Forced Lethal Incorporation: Deprived of natural substrates, the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) is forced to bind to and utilize the active nucleoside-mimics provided by the second component of our therapy.
"By aggressively reducing the intracellular competition between natural nucleotides and the active drug, this mechanism drastically lowers the effective concentration (IC90) of the nucleoside prodrug required to completely halt replication. This maximizes the therapeutic potency against Hantavirus (Bunyavirus) Ebola (Filovirus) and Lassa (Arenavirus), while minimizing potential toxicity and achieving high efficacy at lower doses," commented C. David Pauza, PhD, Chief Science Officer of Traws Pharma.

The Company is advancing non-clinical development and evaluating the therapeutic combination in validated animal models of Hantavirus and Ebola. The critical studies will be conducted within Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) and Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) Laboratories.

"To ensure rapid response capabilities, given the ongoing outbreaks of Hantavirus and Ebola, Traws Pharma is concurrently scaling up its chemical development and manufacturing infrastructure to enable an immediate supply of the therapeutic combination to appropriate health agencies for immediate use and potential stockpiling," commented Iain Dukes, MA, DPhil, Chief Executive Officer of Traws Pharma.

Recognizing the critical importance of regional healthcare organizations and rapid deployment, Traws Pharma will build on existing contacts in Nigeria, in particular its relationship with the NAFDAC to develop sustainable, local manufacturing of drug products. This strategic alignment aims to streamline regulatory pathways and ensure equitable, rapid access to life-saving therapeutics across the African continent.

"By pairing a powerful host-targeted mechanism with nucleotide antivirals, we are presenting a formidable barrier to viral replication and resistance," said Robert R. Redfield, MD Chief Medical Officer of Traws Pharma and former Head of the CDC. "Our developing cooperation with NAFDAC and AMA Medical Manufacturing should ensure that as we finalize our data and scale production, we are fully prepared to transition from the lab straight to the frontlines of global public health and potential stockpiling. We look forward to expanding our interactions with the appropriate regional health agencies, including the CDC."