Synairgen PLC (LON:SNG) has said its inhaled interferon beta-1a respiratory treatment has been included in a US government-sponsored coronavirus (COVID-19) clinical trial.
The drug discovery and development specialist said researchers will assess SNG001’s potential to help COVID-19 patients not yet requiring hospitalisation.
The ACTIV-2 study, sponsored by America’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is part of the US National Institutes of Health and is being used to accelerate the development of the most promising treatment candidates.
The adaptive, randomised, blinded, placebo-controlled trial will recruit 220 people for phase II analysis. Positive results from the earlier clinical stage will see SNG001's progression to phase III.
In a statement, Synairgen chief executive Richard Marsden said: “The inclusion of our inhaled interferon beta-1a treatment in the US Government-funded ACTIV-2 trial reflects the strong interest that our phase II data has generated and the company’s strong belief that this drug could play a vital role in the treatment of COVID-19.
“As an inhaled treatment, SNG001 offers ease of use that makes it possible for patients to administer it conveniently at home, reducing the risk of virus transmission during hospital visits and relieving the major logistical strain on healthcare systems.”
Synairgen said earlier this month that it had begun dosing in a 610-patient, international phase III trial. This will assess the efficacy of the inhaled interferon beta drug in hospitalised patients with COVID-19.
