Australian antiviral drug development company Island Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:ILA) has picked up grant research support for the planned ISLA-101 Phase 2a human clinical trial (PEACH study) in dengue fever.
There is no dedicated treatment for dengue fever at present, and it can lead to severe illness and death.
Cases of disease have increased more than eight-fold over the last two decades according to the World Health Organization (WHO), with one modelling estimate indicating there are now 390 million dengue virus infections per year.
Well-known drug candidate
The grant was awarded to The Research Foundation for the State University of New York at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York, which is partnering with Island to advance development of ISLA-101.
ISLA-101 is a well-known drug candidate that Island plans to repurpose for the prevention and treatment of dengue and other mosquito (or vector) borne diseases.
The PEACH study is a Phase 2a randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled study for the Prophylactic Examination of an Antiviral (ISLA-101) in a dengue challenge model.
The trial will evaluate the effectiveness of Island’s ISLA-101 drug candidate to treat dengue fever induced in the human challenge model.
These studies are anticipated to increase the understanding of dengue infections and may also identify biomarkers of infection that could further aid in the development of effective therapies and diagnostics.
Bolstering intellectual property claim
The funding will enable Island to significantly expand on the data being generated during the trial, further characterising Island’s intellectual property (IP).
CEO of Island Pharmaceuticals, Dr David Foster commented, “We are grateful to SUNY and CDMRP for their support with this additional funding for our planned PEACH clinical trial.
“The additional supported studies will greatly expand the data we are able to gather through our study and should both advance our understanding of dengue as a disease and facilitate development of products, such as ISLA-101, to bring much needed relief to patients.”
Relevant to military service members
The US$1.3 million Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) grant will support laboratory testing and data analysis during Island’s planned clinical trial at SUNY in Syracuse.
The Department of Defense's (DoD's) Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) advance medical and scientific research and fill research gaps “by funding high impact, high risk and high gain projects that other agencies may not venture to fund”.
CDMRP has emphasised that its research programs and funded applications need to be relevant to the health of military service members, veterans, and their families.
Infectious disease expert from SUNY Upstate and Scientific Advisory Board member for Island Professor Stephen J. Thomas said: “This CDMRP grant funding will play an important role in helping to advance ISLA-101, gain a deeper understanding of dengue, and facilitate bringing a medical countermeasure to military service members and all those who live at daily risk of being infected.”