Viraleze was shown to reduce viral load in covid patients, leading to a jump in the biopharma’s share price.
Australian biopharmaceutical Starpharma’s stock rose almost 4% yesterday on the back of its announcement that its Viraleze nasal spray showed antiviral efficacy in covid patients.
In a post-market clinical study of 197 participants with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, Viraleze achieved a statistically significantly lower level of SARS-CoV-2 viral load in the nose over the seven-day treatment period, for participants aged 45 and over (118) than a placebo nasal spray.
The reduction in viral load was also statistically significant compared with placebo for participants aged 50 and over (101), 55 and over (84), 60 and over (66), and 65 and over (50). The magnitude of the reduction in viral load increased with age.
Viraleze reduced SARS-CoV-2 viral load in the nose by 80% from baseline in less than 24 hours after starting dosing in the group of patients aged 65 and over.
Starpharma’s CEO Cheryl Maley said the results were consistent with the company’s non-clinical studies, which also demonstrated that Viraleze protected against infection in a humanised mouse challenge model of covid.
“Viraleze has also demonstrated significant antiviral effects in vitro against a wide range of other respiratory viruses, including influenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and common cold viruses, including human coronaviruses,” she said.
