Hi - just trying to get my head around MSB (as you can see, a newbie to HCt)..
In my search for treatments for ARDS, I came across a few things linked to the effectiveness of TCZ/Actemra (one of the competitors you mention in your post). I'm trying to figure out if Actemra/TCZ poses a legitimate threat to remestemcel-L in the treatment of severe COVID-19 cases:
http://www.catchnews.com/world-news/coronavirus-tocilizumab-drug-may-help-fight-severe-covid-19-cases-study-finds-189865.htmlhttps://in.news.yahoo.com/tocilizumab-drug-may-help-fight-severe-coronavirus-cases-092823016.htmlAn antibody treatment, using the drug tocilizumab, may be represented as an effective option in severe coronavirus cases, according to a preliminary report by Xiaoling Xu et al, published in PNAS.Tocilizumab-- as a recombinant humanized anti-human IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibody, has shown benefits 'clinically' in patients who had contracted the coronavirus disease.In this study, researchers Haiming Wei, Xiaoling Xu, and colleagues examined the effects of treating 21 severe or critical COVID-19 patients, aged between 25-88 years, in Anhui Province, China.The team observed tocilizumab in the treatment of 21 patients with COVID-19, who prior to the treatment were presented with fever and lung lesions.17 patients had abnormally low lymphocyte percentages and 20 patients had elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation. All but one patient received oxygen therapy prior to treatment.All patients' body temperatures returned to normal on the first day after receiving tocilizumab and remained stable thereafter.Within five days of treatment, 15 patients were able to reduce their oxygen intake, and lymphocyte percentages and CRP had returned to normal in 10 and 16 patients, respectively.http://www.rfi.fr/en/science-and-technology/20200428-arthritis-drug-tocilizumab-shows-significant-promise-in-severe-covid-19-caseshttps://www.aphp.fr/contenu/le-tocilizumab-ameliore-significativement-le-pronostic-des-patients-avec-pneumonie-covidArthritis drug shows 'significant promise’ in severe Covid-19 casesThe study, carried out by Paris public hospitals (AP-HP), looked at 129 people hospitalised with moderate or severe viral pneumonia, which occurs in 5-10 percent of Covid-19 patients.The treatment, which suppresses the body's natural immune response, was found to reduce "significantly" the number of deaths or life support interventions compared with a control group of patients."If these results are confirmed, the advantage of this drug is that it is already available in all hospital pharmacies and can be used very quickly. It’s one or two injections for each patient," adds Gottenberg. Tocilizumab currently costs around 800 euros per injection. It is a lab-synthesised antibody, sold under the brand names Actemra and RoAcemtra, commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
While the results are yet to be published, those involved in the research said it showed clear "clinical benefit" of tocilizumab treatment.AP-HP stressed however that further research was needed on the effectiveness of the drug and the potential for side effects. "If these results are confirmed, the advantage of this drug is that it is already available in all hospital pharmacies and can be used very quickly. It’s one or two injections for each patient,"https://www.miragenews.com/clinical-trial-evaluates-tocilizumab-for-covid-19-pneumonia/https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04320615?term=COVACTA&draw=2&rank=1http://outbreaknewstoday.com/arthritis-drug-actemra-shows-promising-therapeutic-value-for-covid-19-patients-18295/Baylor College of Medicine is a research site for a clinical trial evaluating the therapeutic benefit and safety of Tocilizumab (TCZ), an immunomodulator drug, in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. This multicenter study aims to enroll an estimated 330 participants and estimates completion of enrollment in early May of 2020. Besides the research site at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, the trial is taking place in more than 50 sites across the United States, Europe and Canada. The trial is sponsored by Genentech, a biotechnology company that is a member of the Hoffmann-La Roche group.UC San Diego Health has launched a Phase III clinical trial, part of a global effort, to assess whether a medication used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory disorders might also have therapeutic value for COVID-19 patients who have developed or at high risk of developing serious lung damage from SARS-CoV-2 infections.Your note above implies some bearishness around the effectiveness of Actemra, but it would seem from the above that there has been similar progress to remestemcel-L, in terms of a) both showing positive results in the trails conducted to date and b) now progressed to P3 clinical trials
Also understand Actemra is priced at EUR870 per injection, with 1-2 injections needed for each patient, versus what I've seen as indicative prices for using MSC treatment at potentially $75,000 (source: another HC post from ecoool).
Without being an expert on this - if the Baylor clinical trial results show that Actemra is effective in treating severe COVID-19, wouldn't it be more likely that this is promoted as the preferred treatment for ARDS in COVID-19 (and other) patients vs MSC therapy, given a) it is already available in hospital pharmacies and can be more rapidly deployed and b) what appears to be a significant cost advantage? Arguably also c) its already backed by big pharma (Roche) which may also be a perceived advantage.
I'd love for an Australian company like MSB to become the next global healthcare major, but with so many moving parts at the moment on treatments for COVID-19, am just trying to figure out the 'what elses' which might impact its ability to succeed and risks to SP performance
Any thoughts or comments on this are most welcome, thanks!
(20min delay)