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Synairgen says first phase II clinical trial patients have been dosed

Published: 07:33 07 Feb 2018 GMT

copd
Pre-clinical work has shown SNG001 ‘orchestrates’ an antiviral defence against these common viruses to protect COPD lung cells

Synairgen plc (LON:SNG) said the first patients have been dosed in a phase II clinical trial of its lead drug SNG001.

Researchers are investigating whether the inhaled interferon beta treatment is able to protect sufferers of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) from the exacerbating effects of illnesses such as flu and the common cold.

Pre-clinical work has shown SNG001 ‘orchestrates’ an antiviral defence against these common viruses to protect COPD lung cells.

Two-part trial

Synairgen's is a two-part phase II trial, called SG015. The initial stage involves dosing 10 people who have no evidence of viral infection to examine levels of antiviral biomarkers in response to the drug.

The aim is to assess whether SNG001 boosts antiviral defence mechanisms in the lung in the absence of a respiratory virus. Completion of the first stage is expected by the end of March.

Phase-two is designed to measure what Synairgen describes as “efficacy endpoints” and biomarker levels in patients with a respiratory virus.

A total of 80 patients will take part, receiving either SNG001 or a placebo that has no medical impact on the person receiving it.

Diagnostic tool

“We have already shown in in vitro models that SNG001 protects the lung cells of COPD patients when infected with viruses that cause exacerbations such as flu and the common cold,” said chief executive Richard Marsden.

“However, up until now, our ability to identify those patients who may benefit from an inhaled anti-viral therapy made the design of a prospective study challenging.

“This has now changed with the development of a point- of-care diagnostic tool which enables rapid confirmation of the existence of a respiratory viral infection in COPD patients. This enables us to treat only those patients who are infected with a virus, significantly reducing the number of subjects required to show the potential effect of SNG001."

Synairgen looking beyond COVID in fight against respiratory illness

Synairgen PLC (AIM:SNG, OTC:SYGGF) chief executive Richard Marsden speaks to Thomas Warner from Proactive London about the company's ongoing efforts to develop what he describes as a "drug to help patients handle respiratory viruses." He explains that work on the drug long predates the COVID...

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