Positive data show Pentarlandir is safe and effective in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19.
SyneuRx – a company focused on the development of drugs for COVID-19 and multiple central nervous system disorders – has announced results from its phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of SNB01, a novel COVID-19 oral antiviral candidate.
89 participants suffering from breakthrough or unvaccinated cases of COVID-19 were randomised evenly into high-dose, low-dose and placebo groups. The phase 2 study showed that SNB01 – also known as Pentarlandir – can reduce the inflammation caused by COVID and improve overall health.
In five out of six inflammatory markers studied, Pentarlandir treatment groups showed either statistical signals of greater reductions in the inflammatory markers or a clear trend of greater reductions.
Meanwhile, many secondary endpoints also showed encouraging trends. In particular, the Pentarlandir treatment groups exhibited greater improvement in overall health status. In terms of clinical symptoms, Pentarlandir groups were also associated with a greater reduction in total COVID-19 symptoms than the placebo group. On average, Pentarlandir groups were associated with fewer days of worsening symptoms in half of the 24 COVID symptoms measured.
Pentarlandir was very well tolerated in both high and low-dose groups with no serious adverse events. There were a limited number of adverse events overall (15%), most of which were mild in intensity. Only a few cases (4%) were related to the treatment drug.
Higher dose treatment did not elicit more treatment-related adverse events. There were no cases of hospitalization, death, or discontinuation of the study due to adverse events.
“We are strongly encouraged by the findings of this successful proof-of-concept study. These findings not only help us better design the forthcoming phase 3 study but also have great clinical implications,” commented Emil Tsai, founder and CEO of SyneuRx.
“Pentarlandir shows potential to treat COVID and/or prevent the multisystem inflammatory syndrome, a very serious condition associated with COVID. The study results have also brought promise to the recent call for new COVID-19 treatment options as concerns of rebounds and resistance to existing antivirals emerge,” he added
SyneuRx is expected to launch the phase 3 study in the coming months. An optimal dose will be selected and the scope will expand to evaluate Pentarlandir’s broad-spectrum antiviral activity in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 as well as influenza viruses.
