Shares in Synairgen (LON:SNG) were up more than three percent today after it revealed positive results of a pre-clinical study to look at how its IFN-beta combats viral pneumonia.
The study showed that aerosolised IFN-beta reduced virus-induced pneumonia and suggested it may have potential uses in two areas: The broad spectrum post exposure treatment for emerging viral threats, and for the treatment of patients hospitalised with severe lung illness.
As at 1.25 pm, the firm's shares stood up 3.91 per cent, to trade at 33.25 pence.
Non-executive director and founder of drug development firm Synairgen, Professor Stephen Holgate, said:"Every year thousands of people are hospitalised due to lung complications of influenza-like illness.
"If these findings translate into the clinical setting, inhaled interferon beta could become an important treatment with broad antiviral activity in this area of high unmet medical need."
Chief executive of the firm Richard Marsden added: "This development complements our current program targeting viral infections in asthma sufferers, which is drawing near to the end of its Phase II proof of concept study."
The firm's IFN-beta was tested in a model of viral pneumonia caused by pandemic H1N1 (swine flu) and compared its potential use against placebo as either a pre-infection protective measure or as a post-infection treatment measure.
Both pre- and post-infection administration significantly reduced viral load measured using molecular methods compared to placebo, the firm said.
Synairgen specialises in respiratory diseases with a focus on asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).