(Alliance News) - Shares in Sareum Holdings PLC surged on Monday after it said results of an analysis of DNA samples from patients with severe forms of Covid-19 support the scientific rationale for its SDC-1801 development programme in Covid-19.
The stock was trading 30% higher at 1.69 pence each on Monday morning in London.
Earlier in December, the Cambridge-based specialist drug development company focused on cancer and autoimmune diseases said it received a GBP174,000 grant from UK Research & Innovation to investigate TYK2/JAK1 kinase inhibitor as a treatment for severe Covid-19.
"If this research and the ongoing preclinical development of SDC-1801 is successful, and subject to further funding, Sareum would aim to begin a clinical trial of SDC-1801 in severe-phase Covid-19 patients during 2021," it said at the time.
On Monday, Sareum said findings published online as an accelerated article preview by Nature on Friday identified TYK2 as a key causative genetic mechanism and a potential target for therapy.
"The important findings of this extensive DNA analysis provide strong support for our hypothesis that TYK2 inhibition could be a significant contributor to the fight against the life-threatening cytokine storm effects of severe Covid-19. We are very pleased to have recently received a UKRI grant to test this hypothesis and look forward to working closely with others in the field to evaluate the potential of this new approach to bring a much-needed treatment option to patients with severe Covid-19," said Sareum Chief Scientific Officer John Reader.
The company added it also plans to investigate if treatment with SDC-1801 can re-establish protection against bacterial pneumonia following Covid-19 infection.
By Ife Taiwo; ifetaiwo@alliancenews.com
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Sareum (SAR)