hVIVO PLC has hailed the success of an influenza human challenge study carried out at its specialist facilities in London.
Researchers were able to establish clinical proof of concept for Neumifil, a broad-spectrum antiviral candidate developed by Pneumagen, a clinical-stage biotech firm.
Involving 104 healthy volunteers, the phase IIa evaluation was conducted through hVIVO's FluCamp platform and assessed the efficacy of Neumifil when administered as an intranasal spray. Participants were subsequently exposed to the influenza virus.
Neumifil demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the incidence and severity of symptomatic influenza infections compared to a placebo. The antiviral candidate was also well tolerated, with no new emergent adverse events or safety concerns identified.
The study's positive outcomes and pre-clinical data have propelled Pneumagen to advance Neumifil into additional clinical trials, hVIVO said.
Specifically, these future studies will focus on the drug's potential to mitigate viral-induced exacerbations in patients suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Chief scientific officer Andrew Catchpole added: "We are delighted to see Pneumagen obtain these results clearly achieving clinical proof of concept for Neumifil, which has supported Pneumagen's decision to progress the candidate into further clinical studies, including in patients with COPD.
"This is another example of the value of human challenge trials in delivering clinical efficacy data and de-risking later clinical development."