RedHill Biopharma makes progress in RHB-107 COVID-19 study

RedHill Biopharma Ltd. (NSDQ:RDHL) has randomized the last patient in Part A of an ongoing Phase 2/3 study focused on RHB-107 (upamostat), an investigational antiviral.

The Tel Aviv–based company anticipates that RHB-107, a serine protease inhibitor, would be broadly effective against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.

RedHill Biopharma expects top-line data for Part A of the trial, which intends to evaluate the safety and tolerability and dose selection, to be available in the first quarter of 2022.

The trial is testing once-daily oral RHB-107 for non-hospitalized patients with symptomatic COVID-19.

By contrast, Merck (NYSE:MRK) and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics tested a twice-daily regimen for the COVID-19 antiviral molnupiravir. The companies tested molnupiravir in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19.

“Once again, we see a rise in COVID-19 infections in many countries across the world – and the need for effective, simple and safe oral t…

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RedHill Biopharma announces positive data for oral COVID-19 drug

RedHill Biopharma Ltd. (Nasdaq: RDHL) announced positive results from a Phase 2 U.S. study involving its opaganib in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with pneumonia. 

The study indicated that opaganib reduced the need for supplemental oxygen therapy and an earlier hospital discharge. RedHill also concluded that the drug was well-tolerated based on the placebo-controlled Phase 2 study, which involved 40 patients in the U.S. 

The experimental drug inhibits sphingosine kinase-2 (SK2), an enzyme that plays a role in inflammation and replication of some viruses. Opaganib thus has dual antiviral and anti-inflammatory modes of action. 

A total of 50% of opaganib recipients could breathe without ventilator support within 14 days of treatment compared to 22% of people in the placebo group.  

Some 86.4% of patients receiving opaganib were able to leave the hospital within 14 days compared with 55.6% of placebo recipients. 

The study anticipates that th…

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Why RedHill Biopharma is expanding its focus on infectious disease

The specialty biopharmaceutical company Redhill Biopharma (NSDQ:RDHL) recently announced that the first patient had been dosed in a Phase 2/3 investigating the potential of RHB-107 (upamostat) for mild-to-moderate COVID-19.

The company is also testing the potential of a drug known as opaganib for hospitalized patients.

In the following interview, Gilead Raday, COO at Redhill Biopharma, sheds light on its potential COVID-19 therapies and provides an update on RHB-204, a promising candidate for pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) disease.

Drug Discovery: Could you give us a brief background on RedHill Biopharma?

Gilead Raday

Raday: RedHill was founded in 2009. We’re focused on developing and commercializing drugs for GI diseases and infectious diseases.

We have a commercial footprint in the U.S. with three products: Movantik, Talicia and Aemcolo. Those are primarily …

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