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Synairgen says interim readout supportive of coronavirus programme

Published: 03:32 08 Sep 2020 EDT

Synairgen PLC -

Synairgen PLC (LON:SNG) shares opened strongly higher on Tuesday after it unveiled positive interim data from its phase II study of inhaled interferon beta drug for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that it said was also “supportive” of its coronavirus (COVID-19) programme.

The analysis of SNG001 revealed it was well tolerated in this older population studied and that lung antiviral responses were “significantly enhanced”.

The results thus far support the treatment’s progression for use with exacerbating COPD patients, where the symptoms have worsened and require treatment with an anti-inflammatory called a corticosteroid and/or antibiotics.

COPD exacerbations of this kind are the second most common cause of unplanned hospitalisation in England.

Crucially, the data helped make the case for Synairgen’s COVID-19 programme

In the update, the company said it was in discussions with “a number of regulatory agencies worldwide” to establish a route to the approval for its drug as a treatment of the severe symptoms of the virus.

It added that was also working closely with its manufacturing partners on “scale-up activity”.

in a statement, Synairgen chief executive Richard Marsden said: “Our immediate priority is to progress SNG001 as a therapeutic for COVID-19 and, as such, our COPD programme will remain paused.

“We are, nevertheless, pleased to provide further evidence that supports SNG001 as a potential treatment for COVID-19 through the safety, biomarker, and efficacy data generated from patients in this interim review of the COPD trial."

The shares were 8% higher at 211.7p, valuing Synairgen at £315mln.

Analysts at FinnCap said the data should be received favourably by regulatory agencies and governments, especially with the threat of a challenging winter flu season and potential second wave of COVID-19 infection.

The house broker maintained its target price of 360p.

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...

on 09/21/2023