epetirimod

Epetirimod is a small molecule imidazoquinoline derivative that acts as a selective agonist for Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7). Developed as an immunomodulator, it is designed to stimulate the innate immune system by binding to TLR7, which is primarily expressed on plasmacytoid dendritic cells and B cells. This activation triggers the production of interferon-alpha (IFN-α) and other pro-inflammatory cytokines, promoting a Th1-biased immune response. Epetirimod has been investigated primarily as a topical or intravaginal treatment (in gel formulation) for high-risk cervical Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection, with the goal of enhancing the local immune response to clear the virus and prevent the progression of cervical lesions.