Omeros Corporation (NASDAQ:OMER) reported the outcome of a compassionate trial investigating narsoplimab. It treated all six coronavirus patients with ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome). All the patients treated with this drug are recovered from the life-threatening and severe coronavirus symptom.
Evaluates narsoplimab in patients with HSCT-TMA
Omeros also investigated its innovative drug – narsoplimab in patients suffering from a hematopoietic stem cell transplant-related thrombotic microangiopathy (HSCT-TMA). It is another life-threatening thrombotic disorder related to endothelial damage. In the trial that involves narsoplimab to treat HSCT-TMA, the patients reported significant improvement in clinical endpoints and laboratory and unexpected survival. Omeros requests for Biologics Licensing Application (BLA) for narsoplimab for this significant indication from the FDA.
Narsoplimab cures coronavirus and HSCT-TMA
Narsoplimab helps to prevent microvascular injury-related thrombus formation. It can also act against MASP-2-mediated activation of kallikrein, thrombin, and factor XII. All these anticoagulant effects of narsoplimab make it an ideal candidate to cure COVID-19 and HSCT-TMA.
Omeros conducted the clinical trial of narsoplimab considering the request of physicians practicing at Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital based in Bergamo, Italy. The lead investigator for this trial is Alessandro Rambaldi, who conducts the study in patients with HSCT-TMA. Considering the pathologic and clinical similarities between HSCT-TMA and COVID-19, Rambaldi requested Omeros to make the drug available for conducting the trial on patients at his hospital in Italy. The base for COVID-19 in Europe is Bergamo.
Rambaldi said narsoplimab is used to treat patients who are critically ill and achieved impressive results. It is well tolerated in patients without any adverse side effects.
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on revenues
Omeros reported a drop of 49.6% YoY to $13.5 million in Q2 2020. It is on the backdrop of postponing cataract procedures by hospitals and ASCs because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company resumed cataract surgeries in the second half of May 2020. Omeros posted a net loss of $33.3 million in Q2 2020.
Omeros seeks the approval of European regulators to commence Phase 1 clinical trial of its MASP-3 inhibitor – OMS906. The company also approached the US FDA for the IND of OMS906. CEO of Omeros, Gregory A. Demopulos said the data harvested from the COVID-19 patients’ cured using narsoplimab supports the MASP-2’s central role. It is the first time that a lectin pathway inhibitor – narsoplimab is used to cure coronavirus.
