Revive Therapeutics Ltd (CSE:RVV, OTCQB:RVVTF) said it has decided to expand research with Bucillamine as a potential treatment for the coronavirus Omicron variant.
It is an oral drug shown to have promising anti-viral and anti-inflammatory capabilities and is being evaluated in a current Phase 3 clinical study for coronavirus (COVID-19).
Revive said exploring Bucillamine’s therapeutic potential for the Omicron variant is supported in a recently published research study from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), which revealed that potent thiol drugs like Bucillamine inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro, specifically the Delta variant.
READ: Revive Therapeutics announces published results on Bucillamine as potential inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 infection Delta variant
The company said such drugs also reduce SARS-CoV-2-related lung injury in vivo and provide a strong rationale for trials of systemically delivered thiol drugs as COVID-19 treatments. In addition, thiol-based drugs like Bucillamine have been shown in research models to decrease the binding of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to its receptor, decrease the entry efficiency of SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudotyped virus, and inhibit SARS-CoV-2 live virus infection.
Receive added that there is evidence that Bucillamine inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokine production and transendothelial T-cell migration, both of which could further dampen disease course in COVID-19.
As a result of the research and the rise of the Delta variant and Omicron variant, the company said it has decided that in addition to incorporating viral load testing, it will also be adding inflammatory markers to complement the ongoing Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of Bucillamine in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
These inflammatory markers in the US Food and Drug Administration-approved study will allow the company to understand Bucillamine’s potential as an anti-inflammatory agent for treatment and provide confidence in the potential utility and effectiveness of Bucillamine in COVID-19.
“Bucillamine has thus far shown in published research to be agnostic as a potential treatment to certain COVID-19 variants, including the Delta variant, and with the rise of the Omicron variant, we are motivated in expanding research with Bucillamine to explore its therapeutic utility for the Omicron variant,” said CEO Michael Frank in a statement.
“In addition, we are incorporating inflammatory markers to complement the viral load testing to our remaining patients in our ongoing Phase 3 study to support Bucillamine as a safe and effective anti-inflammatory and anti-viral oral agent for mild to moderate COVID-19.”
The company noted that it is not making any express or implied claims that its product has the ability to eliminate or cure COVID-19 (or SARS-2 coronavirus) at this time.
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