An investigator-sponsored trial (IST), which is being carried out by Imperial College London has kicked off. Announcing the initiation of the IST, Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIGL) said that will focus on the effectiveness of fostamatinib. The oral spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) inhibitor is reportedly a treatment for patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia.
There have been hundreds of studies severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) as well as other acute viral respiratory infections. Multiple results from the studies have demonstrated a heavy reliance on pathogenesis on a series of SYK-dependent events such as activation of C-type lectin receptors (CLR). These are the same events that result in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and related problems.
The Investigator-Sponsored Trial (IST) Is In Two Stages
Fostamatinib is approved in the U.S. and Europe. It is marketed as TAVALISSE and treatment for adult chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Many patients with ITP disorder require dedicated disease management, close, and continued follow-up care.
According to Imperial College London, the controlled clinical trial will be in two phases. Administration of fostamatinib will be done twice every day for 14days with a follow-up assessment at day 14 and day 28. Its efficacy at the end of it all will be compared to that of ruxolitinib and the standard of care.
In the last couple of months, major research companies have repurposed their operations to focus on COVID-19. The FDA has continued to approve trials from different companies, seeking to develop novel therapies, which can combat the spread of the virus.
The COVID-19 Global Pandemic Continues To Take a Human and Economic Toll
The COVID-19 global pandemic remains a serious pandemic. Until it is addressed, it continues to be a real struggle for both human beings and the economy, including the most powerful ones.
However, with the valuable support of Rigel to the exciting work at Imperial College London, there is the hope of turning around the situation.
The president and CEO of Rigel, Raul Rodriguez, says, ”given encouraging data from preclinical models of fostamatinib, we believe there is potential for SYK inhibition to help treat the severity of the disease for these patients and to prevent ARDS”.
