PHARMENA has been working on an innovative drug project via its subsidiary – Cortia Corporation.
PHARMENA has been researching possible therapeutic applications of 1‑MNA as an innovative anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic drug.
1-MNA can constitute an effective therapy in treating patients with viral infections, including COVID-19. Using 1-MNA reduces the TNFα level, which can lower the risk of a severe course of the disease and the risk of death in patients with coronavirus. At the same time, in some respiratory tract diseases, including viral infections, a reduced endogenous 1-MNA level is observed.
Based on the above findings, the Company has developed a 1-MNA research plan for respiratory tract infections, including those induced by Sars-Cov-2.
The company has conducted preclinical studies that demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties of 1-MNA. In an animal model of pulmonary fibrosis, 1-MNA at 50 mg/kg reduced pulmonary fibrosis by 28% compared to placebo, showing higher effectiveness than reference drugs in the study, used currently on the market, i.e. nintedanib and fluticasone.
The studies conducted on animal models were aimed at determining the effective dose of the drug candidate against pulmonary fibrosis and viral infections, particularly infections leading to respiratory tract inflammations (i.e. Sars-CoV-2 infection, influenza, pneumonia, bronchitis). Determining the effective dose of the 1-MNA drug candidate is necessary to carry out clinical studies on humans in the above indications. The preclinical studies on animal models have been conducted upon the order of the Issuer by Labcorp Early Development Laboratories Ltd. (formerly Covance Inc.) – an entity specialising in the organisation of clinical studies, i.e. CRO (Contract Research Organisation) based in the USA, providing non-clinical, pre-clinical, clinical and commercialisation services for the pharmaceutical and biotechnological industry.
The company also continues works on the commercialisation of 1-MNA in non‑alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
At the same time, when it comes to reducing the risk of cardiovascular events, the Company has achieved positive results of the phase 2 clinical trials, which gives the green light for the further work on the project.