Marinomed receives funding to research SARS-CoV-2 therapy
Marinomed Biotech AG receives funding from the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) for the development of a SARS-CoV-2 therapy based on Carragelose®. The aim of the project is to clinically test an inhalation solution as an acute treatment for viral pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 or other respiratory viruses.
"A causal therapy directly in the lungs can shorten the duration of the disease and thus hospitalization for patients suffering from viral pneumonia, reduce the number of patients in intensive care and thus bring enormous benefits for patients and the health system," explains Eva Prieschl-Grassauer, Chief Scientific Officer of Marinomed. The patented Carragelose® developed by Marinomed is one of the very few active ingredients with clinical data from patients who have been infected with previously circulating coronaviruses. In 2014, an analysis of coronavirus infected patients showed that the duration of disease was reduced by more than 3 days in the Carragelose® treated group when compared to patients treated with placebo. Marinomed CSO Eva Prieschl-Grassauer: “We can now capitalize on this strong basis. Due to the broad effectiveness of Carragelose®, we are confident that we can also achieve good results with the current pandemic coronavirus.” Within a year, data should be available clarifing whether the Carragelose®inhalation solution is safe and its use in patients is a health improvement compared to a placebo.
In the current project, the tolerance of the inhalation solution will be evaluated first in healthy volunteers. Subsequently a proof of concept study in patients with viral pneumonia will be conducted at the Medical University of Vienna. In parallel, existing data on the effectiveness of Carragelose® serve as basis for in-vitro tests that will be carried out together with the Medical University of Vienna in order to establish safety and effectiveness.
The current project is funded by the FFG as part of the "Emergency Call to research COVID-19 in the wake of the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2". The planned project volume is above EUR 4 million, the maximum funding share is 45%.
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