RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Biomm pharmaceutical company announced it has been authorized by the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA) to begin phase 3 clinical trials in Brazil of the drug leronlimab, to be used against Covid-19.
The goal of the drug is to prevent the disease from evolving into a more severe condition that requires invasive mechanical ventilation.
Leronlimab is a biological drug and acts to prevent an excessive response from the immune system of patients infected with the novel coronavirus, thereby reducing the overproduction of inflammatory cytokines, also known as “cytokine storm.”
According to the drugmaker, this inflammatory storm which significantly worsens the clinical condition may often lead to the patient’s death.
Leronlimab is based on a monoclonal antibody targeting the CCR5 receptor found on T lymphocytes in the human immune system. It is being studied as a potential therapy in the treatment of Covid-19, breast cancer, and HIV infection.
Trials will be conducted by Albert Einstein Hospital’s Academic Research Organization (ARO), in cooperation with the American company CytoDyn, developer of the drug, and Biomm, which markets leronlimab in Brazil.