Respiratory specialist
Synairgen plc (LON:SNG) is currently running a two-part phase II trial evaluating SNG001. This is an inhaled interferon beta drug candidate designed for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who are also suffering cold or flu infections.
It has completed the first part of its SG015 study, assessing the safety of the treatment.
Synairgen said in September that the phase II trial was progressing well, with four new sites added in 2019.
The drug is being developed to treat people with COPD that are suffering exacerbations caused by cold or flu.
The biomarker data has been taken from part-one of the study, in which patients were treated when they did not have a cold or flu infection.
Analysis of samples from the lung showed treatment with inhaled interferon beta boosted the lungs' antiviral defences.
As a result, Synairgen is now more confident of a positive result from part-two, when patients do have a confirmed respiratory virus infection.
LOXL2
The company’s Australian partner has completed phase I trials and toxicology on a LOXL2 inhibitor developed by Synairgen.
This now paves the way for Pharmaxis to advance discussions with potential partners for the drug, which has been developed to treat non-alcoholic liver disease (NASH) and a rare lung condition.
The company retains a 17% “carried interest” in the asset.
Synairgen’s BioBank
Over the years, Synairgen has accumulated an extensive bank comprised of blood, sputum, nasal lavage, biopsies, bronchial epithelial cells and fibroblasts from volunteers with asthma or COPD. Using this resource, the company has developed a number of advanced tissue models.
It uses these models to:
• Discover novel drug targets
• Identify disease-related lesions and underlying molecular mechanisms
• Conduct proof of concept testing and validation of novel drug targets
• Conduct screening assays for novel drug targets and lead target selection
• Provide support for clinical trial activities
Financially solid
Synairgen had cash and bank deposits of £3.52mln at the end of June, compared to £5.31mln a year earlier.
At the end of August, the company received its 2018 research and development tax credit of £840,000, which provides a runway to the readout of the Phase IIa study of SNG001 in COPD patients, expected in the second quarter of the next year.
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What the boss says
“We believe IFN-beta is a highly promising, and commercially attractive, therapeutic that could alleviate symptoms, help manage exacerbations and reduce healthcare costs. We look forward to completing the trial early in 2020 with results expected in Q2,” said Richard Marsden, the chief executive officer of Synairgen.
