Synairgen unveils positive clinical trial data

Respiratory drug discovery firm Synairgen has announced positive findings from a clinical trial into its experimental antiviral treatment.

The firm said analysis of phase 2 clinical trial in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with a confirmed respiratory viral infection showed the inhaled treatment - known as SNG001 - could accelerate viral clearance from the lung.

In particular, the results suggested that human rhinovirus - the most frequently detected virus - was cleared more rapidly in patients treated with SNG001 than the placebo.

Richard Marsden, Synairgen chief executive, said: "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.

"This additional assessment supports continued and further investigation of SNG001 as a possible broad-spectrum antiviral."

Synairgen’s SG015 trial in COPD patients was paused in early 2020 because of the pandemic, with 109 patients recruited out of the 120 targeted. Interim analysis of that data was first reported in September 2020.

Shares in the AIM-listed firm were ahead 7% at 23.6p as at 0830 BST on Wednesday.