BioCryst Pharmaceuticals Inc. has filed its third investigationalnew drug (IND) application on BCX-34, a compound created viastructure-based drug design to inhibit the enzyme purinenucleoside phosphorylase (PNP). BioCryst announced Fridaythat the latest IND is for treating allergic contact dermatitis.

Researchers at the Birmingham, Ala. company have shown inanimal studies that the drug selectively prevents T cellproliferation.

The first IND on BCX-34 was for treating psoriasis; the secondwas for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. BioCryst is now in humanclinical trials for both these indications.

(c) 1997 American Health Consultants. All rights reserved.