New drug 'lowers virus death risk'

An aerosol-based drug treatment could drastically reduce the number of deaths among Covid-19 patients.

According to preliminary results released on Monday by a British biotech firm, the drugs can help lower the number of patients dying from the disease or help prevent them from developing into critical stage requiring intensive care.

In a randomised trial of 100 patients admitted to hospital with Covid-19, those who received an inhaled formula of the protein interferon beta were at 79 per cent lower risk of developing severe disease compared to those who received a placebo.

They were also more than twice as likely to make a full recovery compared with the control group.

The firm behind the treatment, known as SNG001, said the preliminary results suggested "a major breakthrough" in fighting the pandemic.

"We are all delighted with the trial results, which showed that SNG001 greatly reduced the number of hospitalised Covid-19 patients, who progressed from requiring oxygen to requiring ventilation," said Synairgen CEO Richard Marsden.

Verification process

The results published on Monday have not been peer-reviewed and the sample size is relatively small. If confirmed, the treatment could revolutionise how Covid-19 is dealt with in hospitals.

Interferon beta is a naturally occurring protein commonly used to treat multiple sclerosis. It forms part of the body's natural fight against infection and the novel coronavirus suppresses its production in an attempt to evade an immune response.

Delivering protein directly into the lungs of patients is designed to trigger a robust immune response to the virus, even in patients whose immune system is weakened by infection.

"The results confirm our belief that interferon beta has huge potential as an inhaled drug to restore the lung's immune response," said Tom Wilkinson, professor of respiratory medicine at the University of Southampton. He said the trial showed SNG001 was effective in "enhancing protection, accelerating recover and countering the impact of SARS-CoV-2 virus."

Last month Britain-based researchers at the University of Oxford announced they had successfully reduced the risk of death among seriously ill patients by administering the steroid dexamethasone. Other countries have also issued the emergency authorisation for treatment with anti-viral remdesivir.