With evidence from Monash University (Melbourne, Australia) indicating that established antiparasitic drug ivermectin can kill coronavirus in a laboratory setting in under 48 hours (a single treatment is able to effect ∼5000-fold reduction in virus at 48h in cell culture1) MedinCell has published data showing that long-acting formulations of ivermectin can be designed with varying doses and durations using its BEPO® technology.2
With a three-month BEPO injectable product to fight malaria 3 already in development, the company believes BEPO could have a role to play in COVID-19 treatment with ivermectin.
The company said that clinical studies were required to confirm the effectiveness of a long-acting injectable formulations in breaking the chain of viral transmission.
PRESS RELEASE
First in vitro validation of impact of Ivermectin on Covid-19 by Australian researchers
- Researchers at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, have published last Friday a study showing that antiparasitic drug Ivermectin can kill coronavirus in a laboratory setting in under 48 hours. A single treatment is able to effect ∼5000-fold reduction in virus at 48h in cell culture1.
- Ivermectin has a long track record of use as a safe and effective drug to treat several parasitic diseases.
- MedinCell has published data showing that long-acting formulations of Ivermectin can be designed with varying doses and durations with its BEPO® technology2 and is already leading a program aiming at developing a 3-Month injectable product to fight malaria3.
- MedinCell has launched a few weeks ago a research initiative on a long-acting injectable formulation of Ivermectin and believes it could have a role to play in Covid-19 management.
- Future clinical studies will have to confirm the action of Ivermectin on Covid-19 virus, and the potential effectiveness of a long-acting injectable on its prevention and therefore breaking the chain of transmission.
- In case of positive results, a BEPO® technology 1 based long-acting injectable Ivermectin offers a rapidly deployable and affordable solution for a global pandemic.
- The FDA-approved Drug Ivermectin inhibits the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro – Leon Caly, Julian D. Druce, Mike G. Catton, David A. Jans, Kylie M. Wagstaff – Antiviral Research, 3 April 2020
Source: BEPO®: Bioresorbable diblock mPEG-PDLLA and triblock PDLLA-PEG-PDLLA based in situ forming depots with flexible drug delivery kinetics modulation – Christophe Roberge, Jean-Manuel Cros, - Juliette Serindoux, Marie-Emérentienne Cagnon, Rémi Samuel, Tjasa Vrlinic, Pierre Berto, Anthony Rech, Joël Richard, Adolfo Lopez-Noriega – Journal of Controlled Release, Volume 319, 10 March 2020, Pages 416-427
- Company press release: MedinCell receives $ 6.4 million grant from Unitaid to fight Malaria – 03.25.2020
Link to Press Release.