Panacos Pharmaceuticals is a Massachusetts-based company that discovers and develops small molecule drugs. Their lead product is bevirimat (PA-457), the first in a new class of HIV drugs called Maturation Inhibitors that specifically block a late step in processing of the HIV Gag protein. An approach which targets this aspect of viral replication is unique to Panacos. Following bevirimat treatment, virus particles released from HIV-infected cells are non-infectious and virus replication is terminated. Bevirimat is currently in Phase 2 clinical trials.

Tolpa Studios worked with Panacos to create an animation that describes the mechanism of action of Bevirimat at a cellular level. This animation represents the best that medical animation has to offer. It is all at once visually compelling, instructionally sound, and accurate. The style is quite different from most drug mechanism of action animations that are being produced and this was no accident. Panacos wanted a look and feel that would set them apart from their competitors and colleagues.

The animation has received praise from many sources, including the key opinion leaders in the field of HIV research and a biotechnology blog. Click here to read what the folks at aminopop.com are saying about this animation. Click on any of the thumbnails to the left to launch the animation. Its a 3.8 MB Flash movie and you may need to download the latest Flash player in order to view the animation. Voice work by Jeff Hoyt.

To see previous highlights of my recent work, click here.

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