Monepantel and monepantel sulfone COVID-19 anti-viral...

Monepantel and monepantel sulfone COVID-19 anti-viral updateThree individual laboratories have now examined the effects of monepantel (MPS) and monepantel sulfone (MPLS) upon SARS-COV2 infection, the causal agent of COVID- 19 disease

• MPL and MPLS significantly protect against COVID-19 virus mediated cell death

• MPL and MPLS appear to inhibit viral infection by targeting late-stage events in the COVID-19 virus life-cycle

• valuation of MPL in COVID-19 patients is being assessed in Europe for when GMP

  grade tablets are manufactured

• PharmAust will continue to build its anti-viral preclinical data package by additionally

  investigating MPL in HTLV-1 viral infections

  
  

  26 July 2021 – Perth, Australia: PharmAust Limited (ASXAA), a clinical-stage biotechnology company, is pleased to provide an update on its anti-viral program investigating the development of monepantel (MPL) and its metabolite monepantel sulfone (MPLS) as anti-viral therapeutics against SARS-CoV2, the causal agent of COVID-19 disease.

  
  

  
  

  In collaboration with three independent laboratories, PharmAust has investigated the capacity of MPL and MPLS in vitro to inhibit:

  i) SARS-CoV2-induced cell death,
  ii) SARS-CoV2 RNA release from the cell, and
  iii) SARS-CoV2 RNA infection of neighbouring cells.

  
  

  
  

  All three laboratories demonstrated that both MPL and MPLS protect against cell death in vitro following infection with SARS-CoV2. Furthermore, two laboratories investigated the effects of MPL and MPLS upon the early stages of the SARS-CoV2 virus lifecycle by examining RNA release into the culture media.

  
  

  
  

  In one study both MPL and MPLS showed an approximate 50% decrease of SARS-CoV2 viral RNA. In another study, investigating MPLS only, SARS-CoV2 virus RNA in the media was decreased 60-70% (Figure 1, Supplementary technical details below). On their own, these reductions in SARS-CoV2 viral RNA release in the media are considered moderate. Most significantly and as announced on 4 June 2020, 18 June 2020 and 9 September 2020, however, two laboratories investigated the infectivity of SARS-CoV2 virus particles using extended culture TCID50 (Tissue Culture Infective Dose) assays. Both laboratories showed significant suppression of infectivity following MPL or MPLS treatment. In one laboratory, suppression of approximately 99% and 75% was observed for MPL and MPLS respectively and in two different cell lines, while in the second laboratory, suppression was approximately 95% for both MPL and MPLS on one cell line.

  
  

  
  

  While preparing for clinical trials PharmAust will continue to analyse TCID50 data to understand optimal use of MPL as an anti-viral therapeutic.

  The data from these three independent investigations support the hypotheses that both MPL and MPLS:

  
  

  i) significantly protect cells in vitro against SARS-CoV2-induced cell death,

  ii) significantly inhibit completion of the SARS-CoV2 life cycle, by blocking transmission of virus to neighbouring cells,

  
  

  iii) may act later in the SARS-CoV2 virus life cycle than well characterised drugs ie Remdesivir.

  
  

  
  

  The potentially distinct mechanism by which MPL and MPLS inhibit viral replication may offer the opportunity to generate “combination cocktails” with other anti-virals to simultaneously block multiple points of the virus life cycle to strengthen anti-viral activity.

  
  

  In moving its programs towards the clinic PharmAust has been actively engaging with contract research organisations (CROs) exploring European and United Kingdom evaluations for a Phase I trial in human patients to treat COVID-19 once manufacture of GMP-grade monepantel tablets is completed.

  
  

As announced on 12 July 2021, PharmAust is continuing to build its anti-viral preclinical data package by studying the effects of MPL and MPLS in models of human T cell leukaemia virus-1 (HTLV-1). While also broadening the scope of MPL and MPLS potential anti-viral activity, the HTLV-1 models are considered by PharmAust to offer greatest relevance for translation into the clinic for both SARS-CoV2 and HTLV-1 infections.

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This an affirmation of pertinent moves forward made with tableting partnering. I also for one am waiting keenly for all progression from here on. with high interest and confidence.

Good luck all holders.

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