Algernon Explores the Use of NP-120 (Ifenprodil) as a Novel
Treatment for Coronavirus
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Canada -- March 6, 2020 --
InvestorsHub NewsWire -- Algernon Pharmaceuticals
Inc. (CSE: AGN) (FRANKFURT: AGW) (OTCQB: AGNPF) (the “Company”
or “Algernon”) a clinical stage pharmaceutical
development company is pleased to announce that it is exploring the
potential of using NP-120 (Ifenprodil) as a novel treatment for
COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus. A recent independent study
found that Ifenprodil significantly reduced acute lung injury (ALI)
and improved survivability in an animal study with H5N1 infected
mice. H5N1 is the most lethal form of influenza known to date with
an over 50% mortality rate.
Based on this study, published by the American
Society of Microbiology in mSystems in the December 2019 issue, the
Company believes that Ifenprodil has the potential to be
a front-line treatment for the most severe cases of
coronavirus, and may also reduce morbidity in patients. Coronavirus
currently has an overall predicted mortality rate of approximately
4%. Management’s belief that Ifenprodil is a possible treatment for
COVID-19 is based on historic animal studies and not on human
trials.
Despite the overall mortality rate of 4% based
on current data, coronavirus-infected patients experience sometimes
profound pulmonary complications including lung infiltrates,
opacification, and risk of adult respiratory distress syndrome.
Beyond systemic steroid therapy, clinicians have few agents with
which to treat these patients and Ifenprodil may offer a new and
efficacious treatment option that limits inflammatory infiltrates
and the resulting fibrotic responses, as suggested in its earlier
animal model studies.
Ifenprodil H5N1 Animal Study
Background:
A genome wide RNAi interference approach to
identify genes that aid in the recovery of cell viability
after H5N1 infection, lead to the identification of the NMDA
receptor antagonist Ifenprodil, which when tested in an animal
model of H5N1 infection showed:
- Markedly decreased leukocyte infiltration and
lung injury scores in effected lungs
- Significantly ameliorated edema infected mouse lung tissue
- Significantly improved the survival of H5N1 infected mice by
40%
Study Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6906739/
The company believes these findings could be
relevant for reducing the lung-associated complications of
coronavirus infection.
Algernon is preparing to apply for ethics
approval in Australia for Ifenprodil, for its planned phase 2
clinical trial for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and chronic
cough.
“The Company has begun a process to review the
potential of Ifenprodil as a novel treatment option for
coronavirus”, said Christopher J. Moreau CEO of Algernon
Pharmaceuticals. “Ifenprodil is a known, and approved safe drug
that has been on the market in Japan for over 20 years and could be
repurposed quickly to help in the treatment of the disease.”
Algernon has filed new intellectual property
rights for NP-120 (Ifenprodil) for the treatment of respiratory
diseases.
About NP-120 (Ifenprodil)
NP-120 (Ifenprodil) is
an N-methyl-d-aspartate (NDMA) receptor glutamate
receptor antagonist specifically targeting the NMDA-type subunit 2B
(Glu2NB). Ifenprodil also exhibits agonist activity for the Sigma-1
receptor, a chaperone protein up-regulated during endoplasmic
reticulum stress. Although the anti-fibrotic activity of Ifenprodil
in IPF is not known, recent studies have suggested a link between
both receptors and pathways associated with fibrosis.
NP-120 (Ifenprodil - brand name Cerocal)
was initially developed by Sanofi in the 1990s in the French
and Japanese markets for the treatment of circulatory disorders.
The drug is genericized and sold in Japan.
About Algernon Pharmaceuticals
Inc.
Algernon Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage
pharmaceutical development company focused on advancing its lead
compounds for non–alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), chronic kidney
disease (CKD), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), idiopathic
pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and chronic cough.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Christopher J. Moreau
CEO
Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc.
604.398.4175 ext 701
info@algernonpharmaceuticals.com
investors@algernonpharmaceuticals.com
www.algernonpharmaceuticals.com
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release.
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is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any
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circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from
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