French biotech company Alaxia has announced a collaboration with the Department of Molecular Medicine (DMM) at the University of Padua for in vitro testing of its ALX-009 hypothiocyanite / lactoferrin inhalation solution against SARS-CoV-2 as a possible treatment for COVID-19. The company has been developing ALX-009 as an inhaled antimicrobial for the treatment of multi-resistant Gram negative bacterial lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients, and it has received orphan drug designation in both Europe and the US.
According to Alaxia, a 2013 study with DMM demonstrated that hypothiocyanite had virucidal activity against the H1N1 2009 pandemic influenza virus, with no cell toxicity. A February 2020 Phase 1a trial of ALX-009 in healthy volunteers has been completed, and a Phase 1b trial is currently recruiting CF and bronchiectasis patients, the company said.
Alaxia VP of Innovation and Business Development Philippe Bordeau said, “The promising effect on SARS-CoV-2 suggests that ALX-009 can be an antimicrobial with virucidal properties. With the Phase 1 clinical trial data, we were able to determine that ALX-009 is a safe breathable antimicrobial drug candidate. It could be an important tool to treat a large array of life threatening agents in CF. We look forward to increasing the interest around ALX-009 and to finding one or more partners to hasten our development programs.”
Read the Alaxia press release.
