Benzinga | Sep 7, 2021 07:04AM EDT

RedHill Biopharma Highlights Results Of Preclinical Study Of Opaganib

COVID-19 and long COVID patients are at increased risk of developing kidney damage

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Opaganib significantly decreased kidney fibrosis in a preclinical in vivo model

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Renal fibrosis is a progressive process which occurs in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and can ultimately lead to end-stage renal failure

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Opaganib is a novel, late clinical-stage oral pill drug candidate with dual anti-inflammatory and antiviral activity and has already demonstrated strong inhibition against variants of concern, including Delta

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The global 475-patient Phase 2/3 study with opaganib oral pill in hospitalized COVID-19 patients has completed treatment and follow up phase, with top-line results upcoming

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL and RALEIGH, NC / ACCESSWIRE / September 7, 2021 / RedHill Biopharma Ltd. (NASDAQ:RDHL) ("RedHill" or the "Company"), a specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced results of a new preclinical study demonstrating opaganib's (ABC294640)[1] efficacy in significantly decreasing renal fibrosis in a unilateral ureteral obstruction-induced renal interstitial fibrosis model. Reports suggest that over 20% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients experience acute renal failure[2].

Kidney fibrosis generally leads to loss of tissue function and subsequent organ failure, with high mortality rate. New therapeutic small molecules to modulate fibrosis are urgently needed. The aim of the in vivo efficacy study was to verify the effect of opaganib on kidney inflammation and fibrosis in a unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model - a well characterized model for renal fibrosis. Results from the study showed that opaganib significantly decreased renal fibrosis.

"A final, common pathway in chronic kidney disease is fibrosis, the formation of internal scar tissue, which can cause devastating effects and can ultimately lead to end-stage kidney failure. This new preclinical data, demonstrating opaganib's ability to decrease kidney fibrosis, along with its observed anti-inflammatory properties, positions opaganib as a potential novel therapy for the millions of patients suffering from chronic kidney disease and potentially extends to COVID-19 patients with Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) who are at risk of developing renal fibrosis," said Reza Fathi, PhD., RedHill's Senior VP, R&D. "Kidney injury and its associated progression to fibrosis is an important facet in both the acute phase of COVID-19 and in long COVID. Recent research has shown that after acute kidney injury, which we know can be a result of COVID-19 infection, the kidneys often fail to repair themselves properly and that sphingosine kinase-2 (SK2), which is inhibited by opaganib, is part of this process. These findings provide further support for the extensive work we are doing with opaganib in COVID-19. With the upcoming readout, we expect to learn more about kidney outcomes from hospitalized COVID-19 patients treated with opaganib in our global Phase 2/3 study."

Renal fibrosis, a common outcome of chronic kidney disease (CKD), is characterized by an excessive accumulation and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) components and fibrous tissue. Renal fibrosis may ultimately lead to end-stage renal failure, a devastating disorder that requires dialysis or kidney transplantation. CKD is a very common disease, affecting 15% of U.S. adults[3].

Recent studies have found that patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 are at increased risk of developing kidney damage, as well as chronic and end-stage kidney disease., associated with morbidity and mortality in these patients. Findings have suggested that beyond the acute phase of the disease, COVID-19 survivors, even those who did not require hospitalization, exhibit an increased risk of developing major adverse kidney disease such as CKD. In addition, data suggests that approximately 10% of people infected with COVID-19 may experience long COVID (post-acute sequalae), potentially involving acute kidney-related outcomes[4].

Opaganib, a leading novel small molecule investigational oral pill in development for the treatment of COVID-19, is a unique host targeted, dual antiviral and anti-inflammatory drug that acts on the cause and effect of COVID-19. It is believed to exert its antiviral effect by selectively inhibiting SK2, a key enzyme produced in human cells that may be recruited by the virus to support its replication. Opaganib's global 475-patient Phase 2/3 study in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 has completed its treatment and follow up phase, and study top-line results are upcoming.

Evaluations of blinded blended intubation and mortality rates from the Phase 2/3 study have been encouraging compared to reported rates of mortality from large platform studies such as RECOVERY, and other studies in similar patient populations[5]. Furthermore, the opaganib Phase 2/3 study has also passed four Data Safety Monitoring Board reviews, as well as a futility review, extending the total opaganib safety database to more than 460 patients and healthy subjects. Opaganib previously delivered positive U.S. Phase 2 data in patients with severe COVID-19, has been recently published in medRxiv. Additionally, encouraging use of opaganib under compassionate use exemption has been experienced in Israel and Switzerland.