Gator Pharma

Gator Pharmaceuticals was a Florida-based biotechnology company specializing in the development of antiviral therapies for Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. The company's core research focused on the discovery of small molecule inhibitors targeting the HCV NS3-4A serine protease, an essential enzyme for viral replication. Founded as a spin-off from the University of Florida and the University of Washington, Gator Pharmaceuticals leveraged academic expertise to build a competitive early-stage pipeline. In 2002, the company was acquired by InterMune for approximately 10 million in stock to complement InterMune's existing portfolio of interferon-based treatments. This acquisition allowed InterMune to advance a combined therapeutic approach against HCV, integrating Gator's protease inhibitors with their own antiviral candidates.