- PharmAust (PAA) sets a start date for its clinical trials for its lead drug candidate on patients with motor neurone disease (MND) and COVID-19
- The manufacturing of monepantel (MPL) is said to be progressing well, with the tablet shipment now expected at the end of December 2021, three weeks later than originally anticipated
- The MND trial start date is anticipated in early May 2022
- Meanwhile, PharmAust has completed due diligence on potential trial sites for its COVID-19 trials, with the study expected to begin in May 2022
- PharmAust shares are in the grey in morning trading, sitting at 11 cents
PharmAust (PAA) has set a start date for its clinical trial for motor neurone disease.
The trial will test the effects of monepantel in individuals living with motor neurone disease (MND), as well as those affected by COVID-19.
Monepantel is PharmAust’s lead drug candidate, which has been previously evaluated in Phase 1 clinical trials in humans and Phase 2 clinical trials in dogs, both showing evidence of anticancer activity.
The manufacturing of monepantel (MPL) for the FightMND and COVID-19 trials is said to be progressing well, with the tablet shipment now expected at the end of December 2021.
The delivery is three weeks later than anticipated, which the company attributes to the detailed requirements for Phase 3 Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) goods.
The manufacturing of the demonstration batch of tablet for smaller size tablets will begin this week, with GMP tablet manufacture now booked in for the second week of February.
The MND trial start date is anticipated in early May 2022.
Meanwhile, PharmAust completed due diligence on potential trial sites for its COVID-19 trials, with six centres already expressing interest.
The company is working to prepare trial designs while engaging local contract research associates to assist the running of the trials at clinical trial sites using an appropriate monepantel study protocol.
“We are satisfied that all parties are striving for rigorous and timely studies that may ultimately see MPL help individuals with motor neurone disease and COVID-19,” PharmAust’s Chief Scientific Officer Richard Mollard said.
The COVID-19 study is also expected to begin in May 2022.
PharmAust shares are in the grey in morning trading, sitting at 11 cents.