Eiger Biopharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:EIGR) ended September with an announcement through which it revealed the results of its investigator-sponsored study evaluating patients with mild COVID-19.
The study evaluated a treatment called Peginterferon Lambda-1a (Lambda) in patients that have tested positive for the coronavirus but whose symptoms are mild with no complications. The biopharma’s target primary endpoints for the treatment was the level where patients tested negative in two consecutive SARS-CoV-2 by qRT-PCR tests.
The study’s secondary endpoint was the reduction of symptoms, as well as the hospitalization duration in patients. The study had 120 patients randomized on a 1:1 ratio for the Lambda subcutaneous dose and the placebo. The researchers followed up with patients for 28 days.
Evaluating the results of the study
The researchers did not observe any difference in the SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding duration and its time for symptoms to disappear compared to the placebo arm. They also observed that it took roughly 7 days for the viral shedding process to be complete. The treatment was also well-tolerated, and the researchers observed few adverse effects such as higher transmittance, which resolved itself.
“Published reports have demonstrated evidence of a therapeutic benefit of interferons in hospitalized patients with more advanced COVID-19 disease,” stated Colin Hislop, Eiger’s vice president of Clinical and Development Operations.
The study was conducted by researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Hislop also revealed that they are waiting for results from the four peginterferon lambda studies. The studies are investigator-sponsored, and they feature patients with more pronounced COVID-19 symptoms. There is also prophylaxis that involves patients exposed to the virus or that are at risk of exposure.
Eiger’s president and CEO, David Cory, noted that Lambda is in its late development stages as a Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV) therapy. He also pointed out that the company previously observed favorable findings from two Phase 2 studies in which Lambda was used to treat chronic HDV patients. The company is planning to launch a Phase 3 study to evaluate a lambda monotherapy that can be used to treat chronic HDV.
