ITMN-101

ITMN-101 (also known by its early code name ITMN-A) is an orally bioavailable small-molecule inhibitor of the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3/4A serine protease. Developed by InterMune, it was the first clinical candidate in the company's protease inhibitor program designed to treat chronic HCV infection by blocking the viral protease enzyme essential for polyprotein processing and viral replication. ITMN-101 entered Phase 1 clinical development in early 2006. However, development was terminated later that year after long-term preclinical animal toxicity studies revealed safety concerns, specifically related to chronic toxicity. Following the termination of ITMN-101, InterMune shifted its focus to its second-generation HCV protease inhibitor, ITMN-191 (danoprevir), which possessed a different chemical scaffold and a more favorable safety profile.