UK-based Synairgen has announced positive data from a Phase 2 trial of its SNG001 inhaled interferon beta as protection against the common cold and other respiratory viral infections in asthma patients. According to the company, SNG001 showed statistically significant improvements compared to placebo in prevention of symptom worsening during the first week of infection, in the percentage of patients experiencing exacerbations, and in the reduction of the use of reliever inhalers on days 5 and 6.
In addition, the patients who received SNG001 experienced a steady increase in morning peak expiratory flow compared as opposed to those receiving placebo who experienced an initial reduction prior to improvement. The study included 134 adult patients with mild-to-moderate or severe asthma who were suffering from cold symptoms.
Development of SNG001 was initially funded by the Medical Research Council, Asthma UK, the British Lung Foundation, the National Institute of Health Research, and the University of Southampton. Synairgen licensed the intellectual property from the University of Southampton; the US granted a patent in 2009, and a European patent was granted in 2010.
Synairgen co-founder Stephen Holgate said, “This is a really promising breakthrough for the future treatment of asthma and one of the most exciting developments that I have seen in years. This is the first clinical study which appears to demonstrate that, by boosting the antiviral defences of the lungs of asthmatics rather than trying to inhibit rapidly evolving viruses, we can limit the adverse effects of viral infection significantly to prevent worsening of asthma symptoms in a high risk group of patients.”
Asthma UK Assistant Director of Research Leanne Metcalf added, “This has the potential to be one of the biggest breakthroughs in asthma treatments in the past 20 years. We are incredibly excited by the possibilities this research could bring to reduce hospital admissions and deaths as a result of asthma attacks. Over 80% of asthma attacks are triggered by cold and flu viruses, and until now we haven’t had any effective treatments that can stop this from happening. This clinical trial demonstrates the potential of this anti-viral drug to prevent asthma attacks for thousands of people with severe asthma. We are incredibly proud to have played a part in the realisation of this research programme which should benefit people with asthma in a really significant way.”
Read the Synairgen press release.
