Let's sum it up17 Jun 2020 11:21
SNG001 (IFN-B) helps the body to properly fight off viruses without getting out of control.
- There's a pretty much completed trial which should hopefully show this has helped a meaningful amount of COPD patients from getting virus related exacerbations
- There are trials underway in COVID patients to show it can help them fight off the virus (split into two parts because of the increased chance of it helping in the earlier stages)
- Synairgen themselves have already tested hundreds of patients with the drug without and serious reported side effects
- Interferon beta itself is already used worldwide in other conditions safely (to quote the Multiple Sclerosis society talking about IFN-B: "Compared to other DMTs the risk of side effects, especially serious ones, is among the lowest. and many of those side effects they list appear to come as a result of the method of dosage - injection)
- Interferon beta has already been shown to have significant impact in recent trials of other drugs in combination studies with the IFN-B group doing far better
- The company raised £14m, in a placement not available to the public, and was quickly completed, with the company thanking their "new high quality specialist and generalist shareholders"
- The company allocated half the money to the COVID trials but perhaps more interestingly:
- Manufacture of SNG001 drug product and other supply chain considerations: £4m
- Strengthened balance sheet for potential partnering discussions with regards to the COVID-19, future pandemic preparedness, and the COPD opportunity, working capital and fees: £3m
- CEO said "'We are aiming to be in a position to provide millions of doses later this year"
Now maybe they'll be really unlucky and, contrary to all the existing evidence, the trials won't show any impact in any of the conditions. However all of the existing information suggests there's a high likelihood it will show impact, that the company believes it will, and that they're gearing up to produce and sell it on a mass scale, and be ready for the influx of partners/bids once the data has been released.
It's definitely not a sure thing.....but I'm not sure it could be looking any better.