hVIVO PLC (AIM:HVO), a specialist in human challenge trials, has reported positive results from a study it conducted for the Japanese pharmaceutical company Shionogi.
The evaluation tested an experimental antiviral treatment for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) which is a common but sometimes serious lung infection.
Shionogi’s S-337395 was tested in a phase IIa human challenge trial - a study where healthy volunteers are deliberately exposed to a virus in a controlled setting to assess a treatment’s effectiveness quickly.
The results were impressive: the highest dose of the drug cut viral load by nearly 89%, while also improving symptoms.
Importantly, the drug was well tolerated, with no severe side effects or participants dropping out due to adverse reactions.
S-337395 has already received Fast Track designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a status given to promising drugs that address serious conditions.
hVIVO chief scientific officer, Dr Andrew Catchpole, said: "These results demonstrate the power of human challenge trials in accelerating the development of much-needed RSV treatments.
"The significant reduction in viral load and improvement in clinical symptoms observed with S-337395 demonstrate the potential of this antiviral candidate to address the urgent need for effective RSV therapies."