Canine dirofilariasis, commonly known as heartworm disease, is caused by the nematode parasites Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens and transmitted through mosquito bites into dogs. The parasites inhabits the heart and pulmonary arteries, causing damage to these organs. Wolbachia, the bacterial endosymbiont of the parasites, crucially regulate the nematodes’ life cycle. Standard treatment for dirofilariasis involves ivermectin prophylactically or melarsomine on the therapeutic level. However, these drugs are known to cause side effects and resistance.

Corallopyronin A (CorA) is a novel non-competitive inhibitor of the bacterial DNA-dependent RNA polymerase. CorA aims at slowly killing Wolbachia, thus avoiding strong inflammatory reactions. The IP package further comprises a production process of CorA, established on a 15,000 litre scale in preparation for GMP manufacturing, and a stable formulation for oral administration.