UK Biotech Discovers Two Novel Treatments for COVID-19 Patients

According to an April 30, 2020 press release, ILC Therapeutics, a biotech company based in the United Kingdom, has discovered two separate novel treatments for patients suffering with COVID-19 prior to needing ventilators.

The company has patented a new Interferon-Alpha subtype, Interferon Alpha 14, that can be administered via injection or inhalation and has the potential to prevent COVID-19 induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Additionally, in collaboration with Professor Shoumo Bhattacharya at the University of Oxford, the company is developing therapeutic Evasins-molecules derived from ticks-that have the potential to end an immune overreaction damaging the lungs (cytokine storm) in patients, even if the condition has advanced.

“There has been much talk within the scientific community of Interferon Alpha 2, but this is not an effective treatment method and frankly has stalled further interferon research by decades,” said Dr. Alan Walker, newly appointed CEO of ILC Therapeutics, in the press release. “ILCT’s Interferon Alpha 14 could prevent the need for patients to be put on ventilators by boosting their innate immune systems as the virus progresses. We have seen that few patients survive once they are put on ventilators, so the quicker we can develop this treatment in a safe and scalable way, the better.”

Bhattacharya, professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and BHF Chair at the University of Oxford, added, in the press release, “Evasins have proven pre-clinical efficacy against chemokines, which are important components of cytokine storms, and I am excited that their potential for managing COVID-19 cytokine storms will be studied.”

ILC Therapeutics is now seeking funding to accelerate safety studies and clinical trials of these two potential COVID-19 treatments.

Source: ILC Therapeutics