MetrioPharm surpasses 50% of enrollment in Phase II study in COVID-19
- Up to 120 patients with COVID-19 symptoms will be randomized in total
- The recruitment of patients in several European countries progresses swiftly
Zurich, March 02, 2022. MetrioPharm AG, a pharmaceutical company developing drugs for inflammatory diseases, announced today that more than 50% of the number of patients that were planned to be enclosed, have now been enrolled in the Phase II study in COVID-19. The objective of the study is to determine whether the anti-inflammatory effect of MP1032 can slow the spread of the virus in recently hospitalized patients with moderate to severe coronavirus disease and alleviate COVID-19 symptoms.
MetrioPharm's Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) Dr. Wolfgang Brysch commented, "Patient enrollment in this international study is progressing steadily. The set schedule has been met so far and we are optimistic to be able to conduct the study as planned. My sincere appreciation goes to the clinical teams on site in the respective hospitals, who are managing this trial in COVID-19 with great, often personal, commitment in the face of high, regular workloads that this pandemic causes."
The study aims to recruit 120 patients in an early stage of hospitalization. Approximately 80 patients will receive 300 mg of MP1032 twice a day, plus standard of care, and about 40 patients will receive placebo plus standard of care. The trial is being conducted so far in Romania, Hungary, Spain, Bulgaria and Italy. In addition to confirming the safety of MP1032, the primary efficacy endpoint will be the percentage of participants with improved disease symptoms at Day 14, while undergoing treatment with MP1032. First topline data are expected as of H2 2022.
MetrioPharms Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Thomas Christély stated, "I am pleased with the rapid enrollment of patients in our current, Phase II study to date. Among other things, I expect this study to provide further evidence that MetrioPharm's lead compound MP1032 can effectively stop oxidative stress in indications caused by inflammatory processes. Oxidative stress is a key mechanism in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. Worldwide, more than half of all deaths are caused by chronic inflammatory diseases, and inflammatory processes also appear to play a critical role in severe covid progression."
About the European Commission funding
MetrioPharm's Phase II study in COVID-19 is funded by the European Commission under the HERA Incubator. This funding program was launched in April 2021 to support urgently needed research and development to combat the corona virus and its variant across Europe.
MetrioPharm's iMPact project is part of a broad range of European Commission research and innovation activities to combat the corona virus.
https://ec.europa.eu
The iMPact project was nominated for European Commission funding in July 2021, and the grant agreement was signed in November 2021.
About MetrioPharm AG
MetrioPharm AG is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical development company focused on therapies for acute and chronic inflammatory diseases.
MetrioPharm is developing a novel class of self-regulating immunomodulators targeting activated macrophages and inflamed tissues.
MetrioPharm's lead compound MP1032 acts at the top of the inflammation cascade, where elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) trigger cellular oxidative stress and thereby a variety of disease processes.
MP1032 is a novel small molecule ROS scavenger. As a first-in-class immunomodulator, MP1032 does not suppress the immune system. The molecule targets cellular oxidative stress and thereby reduced inflammatory markers such as TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-12, while ROS are maintained at physiological levels essential for normal cellular function.
Due to its molecular structure, MP1032 is only activated when it is exposed to elevated levels of ROS. The molecule then changes from its inert state (inactive) to a deprotonated form (activated). This activated form of MP1032 has pronounced immunomodulatory properties and neutralizes only excess levels of ROS. Thus, the effect of MP1032 remains limited to the site of inflammation.
MP1032 has demonstrated broad anti-inflammatory and anti-infective properties as well as an excellent safety profile in preclinical and clinical studies. Currently, MetrioPharm is conducting a Phase II clinical trial in COVID-19 patients.
MetrioPharm AG is headquartered in Zurich and has a subsidiary for R&D activities in Berlin.
Forward-looking statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties and are consistent with MetrioPharm AG assessment as of the date of this release. Such forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees but are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. No liability or warranty, and no claim, if any, is made with respect to the timeliness, accuracy or completeness of such data and information, and no reliance should be placed on such data and information, either explicitly or impliedly.
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