Synairgen PLC (AIM:SNG, OTC:SYGGF) reported positive data from its assessment of its lead drug on patients with severe viral lung infections.
Testing the mucus of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who inhaled doses of SNG001 showed human rhinovirus (HRV), which accounts for nearly 50% of infections, "was cleared more rapidly in patients treated with SNG001 than placebo".
Sputum was collected during and after the 14-day dosing period.
There was also a significant difference in the proportion of patients with detectable HRV in sputum by day seven of the 14-day dosing period.
Additionally, the company said in more serious cases of COPD there was a greater portion of sputum pus and elevated levels of serum C reactive protein, which are associated with the presence of bacteria in the lower respiratory tract, among those in the placebo group.
"Our new data from COPD patients shows that SNG001 can accelerate viral clearance from the lung and builds on our existing data supporting SNG001's mechanism of action and our focus on severe viral lung infections," said chief executive Richard Marsden.
In early 2020, due to the emergence of Coronavirus, Synairgen's SG015 trial in COPD patients was paused with 109 out of the targeted 120 patients recruited.
An interim analysis of the data was reported in September 2020, which demonstrated that SNG001 boosted lung antiviral responses as assessed using sputum biomarkers, and led to a significant difference in the lung function of exacerbating patients.