The latest Investing Matters Podcast episode featuring Jeremy Skillington, CEO of Poolbeg Pharma has just been released. Listen here.
Interesting article
According to the early results, the odds of developing severe COVID-19 infection requiring ventilation or resulting in death during the treatment period, from day 1 to day 16, was reduced by 79% for patients receiving inhaled interferon beta compared with placebo (OR = 0.21; 95% CI, 0.04-0.97; P = .046). Patients receiving inhaled interferon beta were more than twice as likely to recover from COVID-19 infection during the treatment period compared with the placebo group (HR = 2.19; 95% CI, 1.03-4.69; P = .043), according to the release. Further, patients receiving inhaled interferon beta appeared to be more than twice as likely to have recovered by the end of the treatment period (HR = 2.6; 95% CI, 0.95-7.07; P = .062). By day 28, patients receiving inhaled interferon beta had significantly better odds of recovery (OR = 3.86; 95% CI, 1.27-11.75; P = .017), according to the release.
In addition, breathlessness was significantly reduced in the inhaled interferon beta group compared with placebo (P = .007). During the treatment period, there were no deaths among patients assigned inhaled interferon beta and three patients (6%) in the placebo group died, according to the release.
Among patients with more severe disease at the time of admission, including those requiring supplemental oxygen, inhaled interferon beta increased the likelihood of discharge during the study (HR = 1.72; 95% CI, 0.91-3.25; P = .096). Median time to discharge was 6 days in the inhaled interferon beta group compared with 9 days in the placebo group, according to the release.
“The results confirm our belief that interferon beta, a widely known drug that, by injection, has been approved for use in a number of other indications, has huge potential as an inhaled drug to be able to restore the lung’s immune response, enhancing protection, accelerating recovery and countering the impact of SARS-CoV-2 virus,” Tom Wilkinson, MA Cantab, MBBS, PhD, FRCP, professor of respiratory medicine at the University of Southampton and trial chief investigator, stated in the release.
I keep reading about the fact whats the timeline and it will be fast tracked. I expect peer reviews and reactions by Friday.
Now that the trial has shown promise to become a possible treatment, Synairgen PLC will be presenting the findings from the trial to the medical regulators across the globe in order to see if they approve of the treatment in the next couple of days, according to BBC. The approval process for treatments could take months, although the British Government has promised to go through and approve treatments that show promise as fast as possible.
I think we all agree that Vlad is a character and doesn't follow the norm, but as others have said, he couldn't release anything sensitive to the market during the Q&A but he did provide more of an insight in the different things HEMO are working on.
I wouldn't be surprised to see an RNS drop and as others are showing there findings, no doubt HEMO wont be far behind. I am like many others frustrated with the SP but following the research and Vlad saying it will be a Billion Pound Company, I will sit with my holdings until we receive positive news.
What is nice, is its not full of Rampers and De-Rampers currently and when it is, I look forward to all of those invested for sometime 'Gloating' and thanking their lucky stars they didnt jump ship and made a small fortune or big in some cases.
GLA
Interesting that results are starting to land, Synairgen wont be long now
WHO accepted the recommendation from the Solidarity Trial’s International Steering Committee to discontinue the trial’s hydroxychloroquine and the lopinavir/ritonavir arms.
Interim trial results show that hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir produce little or no reduction in the mortality of hospitalized COVID-19 patients when compared to the existing standard of care.
The Solidarity Trial was established by WHO to find an effective COVID-19 treatment for hospitalized patients.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/human-trials-for-3-jab-expected-to-start-this-week-69xwqvzmk
£200m a litre, that treats 200m people and using Mice as test subjects - ANY LINK
Repeat of previous but nice to see some countries keeping abreast of Synairgen, also like the fact it has shown positive results pre covid.
What have studies shown?
Laboratory studies have shown IFN-beta can protect cells from infection by a range of respiratory viruses.
These include the MERS and SARS coronavirus strains, leaving scientists expecting IFN-beta to also protect against the COVID-19 strain.
It has already been shown to improve the recovery of asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) patients who have other lung infections, such as flu.
Richard Marsden, CEO of Synairgen, said: 'SNG001 has been well tolerated in clinical trials in over 200 respiratory patients to date and has accelerated lung function recovery in two Phase II asthma trials in patients with a cold or flu infection.'
How does it work?
SNG001 is inhaled with a nebuliser, which helps deliver drugs to the lungs.
Scientists believe it will prevent the coronavirus from taking over lung cells to replicate. This would prevent patients deteriorating until the point they need ventilation to survive.
Viruses, including coronaviruses, can evolve the ability to suppresses IFN-beta production in the body, thereby helping the virus evade.
Covid is not going away anytime soon and yes the price me drop but we haven't seen any results for Covid or COPD. Not pretty but great opportunity to buy in or average down.
After the Protesting at the weekend (watch out in 2 weeks time) and those folk who ignored social distancing and went to the beach or other primed places of interest. This will have a second phase no doubt and treatment is needed sooner rather than later.
Not selling this stock regardless - in for the long haul
Tom Wilkinson told Sky News: 'We are hoping that the drug will increase the rate of recovery from infection, that it will increase the protection in the bit of the lungs that are not infected yet and will reduce the number of patients that decline significantly and require intubation and ventilation.'
Mr Marsden said: 'A successful outcome from this trial [at Southampton] in COVID-19 patients would be a major breakthrough in the fight against this coronavirus pandemic.'
Interferon beta-1b (IFN-beta) is a naturally occurring protein that orchestrates the body's anti-viral responses
Interferon beta-1b/SNG001
What are the brand versions of the drug?
The drug is still in development and goes by the name of SNG001.
What does it treat?
Interferon beta-1b (IFN-beta) is a naturally occurring protein that orchestrates the body's anti-viral responses.
SNG001 is a formulation of IFN-beta developed by Synairgen to prevent severe lower respiratory tract illness caused by cold and flu infections.
A different formulation using the protein is used to treat patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
The drug called Extavia is self-injected every two days and works by slowing down the damage to the nervous system and by reducing the number of relapses.
Where has it already been tested?
Synairgen is a UK-based company, and it appears their formulation hasn't crossed overseas yet.
But it does say has been approached by, and is in discussion with, a number of scientific and governmental bodies in the US and internationally since the COVID-19 outbreak began.
What have studies shown?
Laboratory studies have shown IFN-beta can protect cells from infection by a range of respiratory viruses.
These include the MERS and SARS coronavirus strains, leaving scientists expecting IFN-beta to also protect against the COVID-19 strain.
It has already been shown to improve the recovery of asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) patients who have other lung infections, such as flu.
Richard Marsden, CEO of Synairgen, said: 'SNG001 has been well tolerated in clinical trials in over 200 respiratory patients to date and has accelerated lung function recovery in two Phase II asthma trials in patients with a cold or flu infection.'
How does it work?
SNG001 is inhaled with a nebuliser, which helps deliver drugs to the lungs.
Scientists believe it will prevent the coronavirus from taking over lung cells to replicate. This would prevent patients deteriorating until the point they need ventilation to survive.
Viruses, including coronaviruses, can evolve the ability to suppresses IFN-beta production in the body, thereby helping the virus evade.
Is it being tested in the UK?
Southampton researchers are conducting a Phase II SNG001 trial on COVID-19 patients to see if it could prevent worsening symptoms in those most at risk.
The trial, led by Professor Tom Wilkinson at University Hospital Southampton, will involve 100 patients at Southampton and up to ten other NHS hospitals. It started recruiting mid-March.
Those patients will receive the best current COVID19 care, whilst inhaling either a placebo or SNG001 for 14 days.
What are its side effects?
Doctors are currently clueless. Side effects will be reported with the findings of the clinic trial.
Other forms of interferon beta can cause headaches, vaginal bleeding and diminish libido.
What d
The BBC show information like the below from other Pharmas, which makes sense they should go into production if it works but why wouldn't SNG do the same as then they are set for immediate impact on the outcome of trials. Appreciate not as big but surely you would want to be ready to save people from this virus.
Drug company AstraZeneca is to start producing a potential vaccine for coronavirus, its boss has told the BBC.
Trials of the drug are under way but Pascal Soriot said the firm must start making doses now so that it can meet demand if the vaccine proves effective.
"We are starting to manufacture this vaccine right now - and we have to have it ready to be used by the time we have the results," he said.
AstraZeneca says it will be able supply two billion doses of the vaccine.
I concur, a blanket approach is not good.
The Southwest which is my neck of the woods has closed a hospital and the locals have screamed at MP's to invoke local law to stop the wide spread of this virus. My team are not going back into the office for months and I will not be sending my son into School until I feel action is taken to make sure its safe.
This company has a huge role to play and cant come soon enough for those whom contract the virus and to help those who will in the future.
The SP is not going to do much until some positive news arrive, which is obvious I know. What amazes me is that some folk think Covid is going away and things will go back to normal. It isn't going away anytime soon and IMO, we will have a second peak as people are not following the guidance. My area of the UK has spiked the R over 1 since Bojo relaxed rules and when I do go out (for food), its clear that the roads and parks are busier than ever.
What really surprises me about SNG, is that Press around it has had a negative impact on the SP and that only this morning, the BBC News is saying that Ibuprofen is a cheap drug that helps Covid patients. I think not and SNG has all the strings to its bow to help in the fight against this invisible attack on the world, as well as other fronts.
SNG appear to be controlled in what they are doing and releasing information when required (which for investors isn't always what we want) but other Pharma's are seeing news constantly, with no value but a Hype. SNG appear to be a solid company that want all the ducks aligned before pulling the trigger and Covid has helped them move forward faster then anticipated.
GLA - Im in for the long haul (win or lose)