Here is a small take on the history and progress to date for our...

Here is a small take on the history and progress to date for our new readers.

BIT225 as a Potential Cure for Covid-19

BIT225 is the main exploratory drug candidate from the Sydney based biotechnology company, Biotron, for treating HIV, and now also, Covid-19.

Biotron’s recent in vivo (mouse) trial results for treating the SARS-COV-2 virus that causes Covid-19, were quite remarkable. They achieved several important factors that may lead to a much needed antiviral for treating Covid-19.

Most significantly, the engineered mice of increased ACE2 receptor cells, the cells in which the virus enters host cells, were able to gain normal growth weight gain for 5 days even after being dosed with the Wuhan Corona Virus, as opposed to the mice who were untreated. This is a significant outcome as the treated mice were able to maintain statistically reduced levels of key cytokine and chemokines that develop in C-19 infections, including IL-6, IL-1, IL-1, TNF-, TGF- and MCP-1 (https://www.biotron.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Biotron-Drug-Effective-Against-COVID-19-in-Animals.pdf).

Also noteworthy, is that BIT225 inhibited growth in cell cultures of the Delta coronavirus variant in vitro by 99.99% .

In summary, we can quote from Biotron’s research results referenced above:

“The in vivo study demonstrates that BIT225 is highly effective antiviral agent and protects the animals from severe disease. The in vitro study demonstrates that BIT225 is also active against the highly infectious delta strain of SARS-CoV-2".

Biotron is not new to corona virus research. It was only in September 2019, a few months before the present pandemic was declared, that they renewed their patent for previous and ongoing research into coronaviruses that began when the SARS virus arrived in 2002. http://www.freepatentsonline.com/20190389816.pdf

One of Biotron’s lead researchers at that time was the late, Professor Peter Gage, who was a successful biophysicist specializing in ion channels and neuroscience (https://www.science.org.au/fellowship/fellows/biographical-memoirs/peter-william-gage-1937%E2%80%932005#7).

During their research into the initial SARS virus , they were first to discover that one of the four structural proteins of all coronaviruses, the Envelope or 'E', performs ion channel activty, and tehrefore is a viroporin protein, which play a critical role in viral replication (https://www.nature.com/articles/nrmicro2820).

As the original SARS outbreak lasted only nine months before being contained, Biotron returned their focus to HIV and other viruses, utilizing the same technology based around viroporins. They have completed nine HIV human trials with over 200 patients receiving BIT225, and their most recent scientific publication outlines the progress to date https://academic.oup.com/jid/article-abstract/223/11/1914/5920638?redirectedFrom=fulltext. More recently, they have commenced three new HIV trials in Australia and Thailand, with results due in mid 2022 https://www.biotron.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Update-on-Biotrons-HIV-1-and-COVID-19-Programs.pdf.

Biotron is presently in consultation with US specialist for C-19 human trials in the US, and there is a possibility, speculatively, that they may be granted entry into the FDA fast track program, specifically, the Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program, or CTAP. If this eventuates, then Biotron’s work on coronaviruses to date will be well acknowledged. Biotron have also announced that they will commence a separate human trial against C-19 outside of the US, and have procured several kilograms of BIT225 for these purposes. Noteworthy to these announcements is that are acquiring non-equity funding for these intended human trials, which indicates interest from major investment and/or pharmacy agents.