Synairgen posts positive results for phase 2 trial with SNG001 against Covid-19

Synairgen announced positive results for its inhaled antiviral protein treatment interferon beta against Covid-19.

The results from the second phase clinical trial for the treatment, known as SNG001, revealed a non-significant but "encouraging" 86% relative risk reduction among 220 patients, said Synairgen's boss, Richard Marsden.

"These results are really encouraging and build upon the strong body of non-clinical and clinical evidence, which includes Synairgen's home-based trial (SG016) in high-risk patients, supporting SNG001's potential as a broad-spectrum antiviral for a wide range of severe lung infections including COVID-19.

"We will now begin to evaluate the full data set and factor these findings into our development plans."

Of the 110 patients taking SNG001, only one went on to require hospitalisation, against seven for those treated with placebo.

No statistically significant differences were detected between those being dosed and the control group when it came to the primary outcomes of safety, symptom resolution or virology, the company said.

The ACTIV-2 Phase 2 trial was conducted in conjunction with the US National Institutes of Health.

On the back of the trial data, in October 2021. the independent monitoring board recommended moving on to the third and last phase, but in March the NIH halted recruitment for the trial due to "significant" change in the pandemic which would have required substantially modifying the study's design.

That option was deemed unfeasible in a multiple treatment-arm platform trial of the current size.