RedHill Biopharma’s opaganib shows COVID-19 mortality reduction

RedHill Biopharma announced the publication of data in the journal Microorganisms from the phase 2/3 study of opaganib in COVID-19 pneumonia. The post hoc analysis of data from 251 study participants showed that hospitalized COVID-19 patients requiring a fraction of inspired oxygen up to and including 60% had better outcomes after 14 days’ opaganib treatment compared to placebo. There was a clinically meaningful 62% reduction in mortality by day 42. Additionally, the proportion of patients with FiO2less than or equal to60% at baseline that no longer required supplemental oxygen by day 14 of opaganib treatment increased by 21%. The safety profile for opaganib was similar to placebo. Opaganib, a proprietary investigational host-directed and potentially broad-acting drug, is targeting multiple potential indications, including several cancers, diabetes and obesity-related disorders, COVID-19, Ebola and other viruses as part of pandemic preparedness.