Algernon Pharmaceuticals reports findings from Ifenprodil Phase 2b/3 coronavirus trial may be positive for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) study

Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc (CSE:AGN) (FRA:AGW) (OTCQB:BTHCF) reported potential recent findings, which could be positive for its ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial of Ifenprodil for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and chronic cough. 

In its recent Ifenprodil Phase 2b/3 trial for coronavirus (COVID-19), the drug candidate reduced interleukin 6 (IL-6) with ‘statistical significance’, the biotech said in a statement. 

READ: Algernon Pharmaceuticals hits 50% of enrollment target for Phase 2 lung fibrosis and chronic cough trial of ifenprodil

“The effects of Ifenprodil on IL-6 may be helpful in better understanding its potential role as a possible therapeutic treatment for IPF,” it added.

Interleukin (IL-6) acts as both a pro-inflammatory cytokine and an anti-inflammatory myokine and is encoded by the IL-6 gene. IL-6 can promote fibrosis by driving chronic inflammation and is elevated in patients with idiopathic pulmonary.

In a mouse model, blockade of IL-6 has been shown to attenuate (reduce) pulmonary fibrosis.

On May 11, 2021, the company announced that it had reached 50% of its enrollment target for its Phase 2 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and chronic cough clinical study of its repurposed drug NP-120 (Ifenprodil).

The 20 patient proof-of-concept trial is designed to determine the efficacy of Ifenprodil in the preservation of lung function in patients suffering from IPF and its associated chronic cough. There are six sites participating in the study, with four located in Australia and two in New Zealand.

Ifenprodil has been shown to mediate anti-inflammatory responses and reduce pulmonary fibrosis in a murine (mouse) model of IPF, the company said, and it significantly reduced cough frequency and delayed onset in a guinea pig acute cough model.

Algernon noted in today’s statement that it is not making any express or implied claims that Ifenprodil has the ability to eliminate, cure or contain COVID-19 (or the SARS-2 Coronavirus) at this time.

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