First US Clinical Trial for Possible COVID-19 Treatment About to Start

The battle to find an effective vaccine and eventual cure to the COVID-19 pandemic rages on. But hope springs eternal as the global war on the deadly virus has already yielded some promising early results at the clinical stage. One of the Companies making solid progress is Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AGN) (CSE.AGN, OTCQB:AGNPF, FRANKFURT: AGW, Forum) – a Vancouver, BC-based clinical stage pharmaceutical development and drug repurposing company.

Drug repurposing is the intensive process of discovering new therapeutic uses for previously approved drugs. For pharma investors, this equates to risk reduction, more efficient expenditure of capital, and a shorter development pathway to U.S. FDA and Health Canada regulatory approval. Algernon also specifically investigates compounds that have never been approved in the U.S. or Europe to avoid off label prescription writing.

On July 21st, the Company announced a major independent research study from the University of Texas at Dallas’ Center for Advanced Pain Studies. And the study has identified NP-120 (Ifenprodil) as one of a number of possible drug candidates for the treatment of COVID -19. Ifenprodil is an NMDA receptor antagonist that specifically targets the NMDA-type subunit 2B.




In a recent conversation with the Company, Dr. Theodore Price, one of the study’s co-authors, explained the promising results:

“We were really taken aback at the upregulation of NMDA receptors in severe COVID-19 patients. We were even more surprised, when we noted that it was an immune based signal and not neuronal. Based on our findings, we think there is significant opportunity in disrupting NMDA receptor signalling in the lung for reversing pathology in COVID.”


Assessing the Clinical Trials: Moving into Phase 2b/3 Human Study of Ifenprodil for COVID-19

As the clock ticks, Algernon continues its rapid pace research into a successful, long-term COVID-19 treatment. Recently, on July 16th, AGN announced that it had completed its clinical trial agreement with Westchester Research Center at in Miami Florida for its multinational Phase 2b/3 human study of Ifenprodil for COVID-19. The principal investigator is Dr. Aimee Gonzalez, MD.

Christopher J. Moreau, CEO of Algernon Pharmaceuticals, commented:

"Of the 5 U.S. research institutions we have been working with, two are located in Florida where they have recently had a significant number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. We look forward to working with Dr. Gonzalez and appreciate her work in helping to get the trial started at Westchester General as soon as possible."

Things are beginning to roll for Algernon’s clinical trial program. Enrollment of the first patient for the Phase 2b/3 study is expected before the end of July 2020. According to the Company, it is still difficult to anticipate at this time what the enrollment rate for the study will be across all countries and all sites selected. After the study begins, AGN will make an assessment of the enrollment rate and will provide an update to the market on a projected completion date as well as when the data will be expected.

Mainstream media are also taking note, with The Guardian referencing the announcement of the trial in a July 24th, 2020 article on Florida hospitals being stretched to capacity.


In Closing

Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. is making definable progress in the fight against COVID-19, moving on to the strategically important Phase 2b/3 “human study” clinical trial stage. For retail and institutional investors, healthcare professionals, and patients with a keen eye to a potential lifesaving treatment for the novel coronavirus, these two major announcements should be treated as major breaking news.


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For more information on this Company, visit https://algernonpharmaceuticals.com/


FULL DISCLOSURE: This is a paid article of Stockhouse Publishing.