By Samuel Indyk
Investing.com – Synairgen (LON:SYNG) has announced that its SNG001 inhaled interferon beta for the treatment of severe viral lung infections has been recommended to advance to Phase 3 as part of the ACTIV-2 COVID-19 trial. The ACTIV-2 trial is sponsored by the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.
The respiratory drug development company said its formulation containing the broad-spectrum anti-viral protein interferon beta (IFN-beta) could restore or boost natural antiviral defences to prevent severe illness in the lower respiratory tract.
“Interferon beta is a naturally-occurring protein, which orchestrates the body's antiviral responses,” said Synairgen Chief Scientific Officer Phillip Monk. “SARS-CoV-2 suppresses IFN-beta production to compromise the immune system; the aim of delivering SNG001 directly into the lungs is to restore or boost natural antiviral defences to prevent the virus from causing severe lower respiratory tract illness.”
The recommendation by the external data safety monitoring board to advance to Phase 3 comes despite Synairgen confirming that they have not received any data from the ACTIV-2 trial.
“The advancement of SNG001 from Phase 2 to Phase 3 of the large ACTIV-2 trial is very welcome news and continues to build the case that our formulation of inhaled IFN-beta may have an important role in combatting COVID-19 and future emerging virus threats,” said Synairgen CEO Richard Marsden. “In addition to the ACTIV-2 trial, our own Phase III SPRINTER study assessing SNG001 in hospitalised COVID-19 patients, is also progressing well and we expect top-line results in early 2022.”
At 09:44BST, Synairgen shares were trading higher by 13% at 166.2 pence per share.