Synairgen PLC (AIM:SNG, OTC:SYGGF) said it presented in vitro data demonstrating antiviral activity of its lead asset SNG001 against multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 and clinical biomarker data which showed inhaled SNG001 stimulates lung antiviral responses.
The respiratory company made the poster and oral presentations to the European Scientific Working Group in Influenza conference.
The poster provided lab-based (in-vitro) data showed the interferon-beta ‘potently’ reduced the virus to undetectable levels in cells infected with SARS-CoV-2, including the alpha, beta and gamma variants.
Synairgen said it is currently assessing the drug against the delta and omicron mutations and will update as soon as the results are available.
In the oral presentation, delegates heard SNG001 significantly increased interferon beta-dependent antiviral biomarkers in the lungs of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients enrolled in phase II trials.
The company is currently developing SNG001 as an inhaled treatment used to mollify moderate and severe symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
It is thought the naturally occurring antiviral protein interferon beta contained in the drug 'switches on' antiviral defences.
“Interferon beta production by lung cells is suppressed by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We presented data showing that SNG001 activates the lungs' antiviral defences for 24 hours after a dose has been delivered, supporting our once-a-day dosing schedule," said Monk.