Kovina HPV E6 inhibitor

Kovina Therapeutics is developing first-in-class small molecule inhibitors that target the HPV E6 oncoprotein for the treatment of HPV-driven cancers and premalignant infections. The lead compounds are designed to covalently bind to cysteine-51 in the HPV16 E6 protein, disabling the viral oncoprotein and preventing its interaction with cellular targets, specifically the E6AP ubiquitin ligase. This mechanism prevents the E6-mediated degradation of the tumor suppressor protein p53, thereby restoring p53 levels and triggering apoptosis selectively in HPV-infected cells while sparing healthy tissue. The program is currently in the preclinical stage and targets a range of conditions including cervical, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers, as well as precancerous cervical and anal dysplasias.