Commercial-stage biotech acceleration firm Q BioMed has announced its partner asset MAN-19—intended for the treatment of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), a condition caused by viral infections in the lungs including COVID-19—is poised to start clinical trials in the early months of 2022.
George Nikopoulos, CEO of Mannin Research, said, “We are very encouraged by our progress and the results of the preclinical work to date. Our next steps are to complete the final toxicology studies, data aggregation, and achieve approval of a Phase I clinical trial.”
“We know that we have a promising solution for COVID-19 patients suffering from ARDS. This is even more meaningful to me personally, as I have seen the need for novel therapeutics for hospitalized COVID-19 patients, having recently recovered from severe COVID-19 myself,” added Nikopoulos.
MAN-19 is a recombinant fusion protein intended to treat the patient, rather than targeting the virus itself. According to Q Bio Med, it is not intended to cure the virus, but instead strengthens a patient’s blood vessels to protect them against ARDS, breathing problems, sepsis, and other infections that may cause the body’s organs to begin shutting down.
Developers hope the treatment will help keep COVID-19 patients out of the intensive care unit and off ventilators. Initial manufacturing and preclinical testing reportedly have shown promise, and pending upcoming toxicology testing, Q BioMed reports, the drug is poised for clinical trials to start in 2022; if the drug proves both safe and effective in trial, the company expects to have it available for use by patients by early 2023.
Denis Corin CEO of Q BioMed said, “COVID-19 is not going away any time soon. As a result, there is a need to develop more effective treatments. We believe that our technology will play a role in the broader treatment landscape and not only for COVID-19 but also for other infectious diseases that cause ARDS.”
