SOUTHAMPTON, United Kingdom,
Dec. 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/
-- Synairgen plc (LSE: SNG), the respiratory company
developing SNG001, a formulation for inhalation containing the
broad-spectrum antiviral protein interferon beta for the treatment
of severe viral lung infections, has presented in vitro and
clinical data demonstrating antiviral activity for SNG001 in a
poster and an oral presentation respectively at the 8th
European Scientific Working Group in Influenza (ESWI) Influenza
Conference, which was held virtually 4-7
December, 2021.
In the poster session, Synairgen presented in vitro data
demonstrating that SNG001, our formulation of the
naturally-occurring antiviral protein interferon beta, potently
reduced virus to undetectable levels in cells infected
with SARS-CoV-2 including the Alpha, Beta and Gamma variants
of concern (VOC), at concentrations that are readily achievable
following inhaled delivery of interferon beta.
"This study demonstrated potent antiviral activity of SNG001
against SARS-CoV-2 including Alpha, Beta and Gamma variants, which
is important given the continuing emergence and global spread of
variants of concern," Phillip
Monk, Ph.D., Synairgen Chief Scientific
Officer, commented.
Synairgen is investigating the in vitro activity of
SNG001 against the Delta and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 and
will make data available as soon as possible.
In a separate oral session on 6 December, Dr Monk presented data
showing that inhaled SNG001 significantly increased interferon
beta-dependent antiviral biomarkers in the lungs of asthma and
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients enrolled in
Phase 2 trials.
"SNG001 is an investigational drug currently in Phase 3
trials, with the first data read out early in 2022, and contains
the essential antiviral protein interferon beta, a protein that
'switches on' antiviral defences. Interferon beta production by
lung cells is suppressed by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We presented data
showing that SNG001 activates the lungs' antiviral defences for 24
hours after a dose has been delivered, supporting our once-a-day
dosing schedule," Dr Monk added.
Details of the two ESWI presentations are as follows:
Poster Presentation:
Title:
Interferon beta has potent antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2
including variants of concern
Abstract:
269
Vero E6 cells, a cell line that is widely used in virology
studies, were pre-treated with SNG001 16 hours before, and
re-treated with SNG001 after, infection with 'Wuhan-like' SARS-CoV-2, Alpha, Beta or Gamma
variants. The presence of viral protein-positive cells was
determined 20 hours post-infection by immunostaining.
The poster included the following data:
- SNG001 potently reduced virus to undetectable levels following
infection of cells with 'Wuhan-like' SARS-CoV-2, Alpha, Beta or Gamma
variants.
- SNG001 achieved 99% inhibition (IC99) at concentrations of 5.4,
17.7, 11.0 and 7.9 IU/mL respectively.
The poster presentation is available on the Synairgen
website.
Oral Presentation:
Title:
Local delivery of interferon beta (SNG001) by inhalation
upregulates lung antiviral biomarkers
Abstract:
270
Sputum samples were collected from patients in two Phase 2
studies of SNG001: SG005 (NCT01126177) in patients with
asthma, and SG015 (NCT03570359) in patients with COPD. Gene
expression of IFN-β-dependent antiviral biomarkers, MX1 and OAS1,
in cells in the sputum samples were measured by RT-qPCR.
The presentation included the following data:
- Inhaled SNG001 significantly increased levels of interferon
beta-dependent antiviral biomarkers in the lungs of both patient
populations compared with pre-treatment levels.
- Biomarker responses were similar in younger asthma patients and
older COPD patients at the same dose.
- SNG001 was well tolerated.
This announcement contains inside information for the
purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014
('MAR').
For further enquiries, please contact:
Synairgen plc
Richard
Marsden, Chief Executive Officer
John Ward, Chief Financial
Officer
Brooke Clarke, Head of
Communications
Brooke.Clarke@synairgen.com
Tel: + 44 (0) 23 8051 2800
finnCap (NOMAD and Joint Broker)
Geoff Nash, Kate
Bannatyne, Charlie Beeson
(Corporate Finance)
Alice Lane, Sunil de Silva (ECM)
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7220 0500
Numis Securities Limited (Joint Broker)
James Black, Freddie
Barnfield, Duncan
Monteith
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7260 1000
Consilium Strategic Communications (Financial Media and
Investor Relations)
Mary-Jane Elliott, Jessica Hodgson, Lucy
Featherstone
synairgen@consilium-comms.com
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3709 5700
MKC STRATEGIES, LLC (US Media
Relations)
Mary
Conway
MConway@MKCStrategies.com
Tel: +1 516-606-6545
About Synairgen
Synairgen is a UK-based respiratory
company focused on drug discovery, development and
commercialisation. The Company's primary focus is developing SNG001
(inhaled interferon beta) for the treatment of COVID-19 as
potentially the first host-targeted, broad-spectrum antiviral
treatment delivered directly into the lungs. SNG001 has been
granted Fast Track status from the US Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) and the Phase 3 SPRINTER trial was deemed an Urgent Public
Health study by the UK's National Institute for Health Research
(NIHR). Synairgen's Phase 3 clinical programme is currently
evaluating nebulised SNG001 in patients across 17 countries. In a
Phase 2 trial in hospitalised COVID-19 patients, SNG001
demonstrated a greater than two-fold chance of recovery to 'no
limitation of activities' versus placebo.1
Founded by University of Southampton Professors Sir Stephen Holgate, Donna
Davies and Ratko Djukanovic
in 2003, Synairgen is quoted on AIM (LSE: SNG). For more
information about Synairgen, please see www.synairgen.com.
1https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30511-7/fulltext
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SOURCE Synairgen PLC