- PharmAust (PAA) is facing delays for its phase one COVID-19 trial as it works to find a suitable site to achieve patient recruitment numbers
- The trial is aiming to use its Monepantel (MPL) tablets to monitor the anti-viral effects of the drug in patients with COVID-19
- The MPL tablets are also being tested against motor neuron disease (MND) in a human trial, with pharmacokinetic data from this trial to also be used for COVID-19 trials
- In doing this, the company believes it can undertake a phase two instead of a phase one COVID-19 trial, resulting in faster patient recruitment
- Shares in the company last traded at 8.9 cents each
PharmAust (PAA) is facing delays for its phase one COVID-19 trial as it works to find a suitable site to achieve patient recruitment numbers.
It has been looking in Eastern Europe, where there are still significant numbers of unvaccinated patients.
Three clinical centres in Bosnia and Romania have shown interest in participating and recruiting qualifying patients for the study.
The trial is aiming to use PharmAust’s Monepantel (MPL) tablets to monitor the anti-viral effects of the drug in patients with COVID-19.
The MPL tablets were first designed to treat motor neuron disease (MND).
According to PharmAust, the tablet passed all required stability and formulation testing and has now been shipped to Sydney and Melbourne.
PAA is on track to begin patient recruitment for a phase one MND trial using MPL tablets next month.
What’s more, the company will use this trial to provide phase one pharmacokinetic (PK) data for both the MND and COVID-19 trials.
In doing so, PharmAust said it believed it could undertake a phase two instead of a phase one COVID-19 trial, resulting in faster patient recruitment.
If this strategy is successful, PAA estimates it will save $1.5 million.
Shares in the company last traded at 8.9 cents each.