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Noxopharm (ASX:NOX) drug shows potential to prevent COVID-19 deterioration

Health Care
ASX:NOX      MCAP $17.82M
22 April 2021 14:50 (AEST)
Noxopharm (ASX:NOX) - CEO, Dr Graham Kelly

Source: Switzer Financial Group [Youtube]

Interim data from Noxopharm’s (NOX) COVID-19 treatment trial has indicated its Veyonda drug could prevent inflammation typically associated with the virus.

The NOXCOVID-1 study aims to demonstrate Veyonda’s safety, as well as its efficacy, in stopping COVID-19 from worsening into cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and septic shock. 

Blood samples of the first 18 NOXCOVID trial patients have been analysed for a large suite of inflammatory biomarkers typically associated with this process.

According to Noxopharm, a key factor associated with the disease worsening is excessive production of inflammatory factors normally invoked to facilitate tissue repair and combat infection in a process known as the cytokine storm.

So far, the study has revealed none of the 18 patients receiving the Veyonda treatment showed any of these biomarkers linked to severe worsening of the virus.

While correlation of these responses to clinical data will need to be confirmed first, Noxopharm said the findings point to a protective effect of Veyonda against disease progression and the development of a cykotine storm.

“Treatments that stop patients progressing into needing high-level health care such as mechanical ventilation and occupying ICU beds is a major industry goal,” Noxopharm Chief Executive Officer Graham Kelly said.

“Our confidence is growing that Veyonda will form part of meeting that goal, and in so doing, potentially save many lives and deliver shareholders a potentially highly valuable and much sought after asset,” he concluded.

Noxopharm shares are up 4.76 per cent following the announcement, trading at 66 cents at 3:25 pm AEST.

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