MADRID, January 11 (Reuters) – PharmaMar in Spain PHMR.MC said on Tuesday that in vitro and animal trials showed its drug Plitidepsin had positive antiviral effects on COVID-19 variants, including Omicron.
Phase I trial results showed that the drug, also known as Aplidin, had potent antiviral activity against all variants in vitro and distribution to the lungs of test animals, resulting in a 99% reduction in viral load in the lungs, the company said.
The trial results were published in an article published in the scientific journal Life Science Alliance, PharmaMar said.
The document also reports on the positive effects of phase I and II trials on patients.
“All the data we have seen so far with Plitidepsin supports our initial hypothesis of its antiviral activity,” Jose Maria Fernandez Sousa of PharmaMar said in a statement.
The drug is being tested in final phase III trials in patients.
Shares of PharmaMar rose 5.3% in early trading.
Plitidepsin is a drug originally developed by PharmaMar to treat cancer, but has an antiviral effect.
(Report by Inti Landauro and Louise Heavens)
((Inti.Landauro@thomsonreuters.com;))
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