CytoDyn Inc., a late-stage biotechnology company developing CCR5 inhibiting drug leronlimab- Vyrologix, showed impressive results in improving the immune function of critically ill COVID-19 patients in the United States.
Leronlimab- Vyrologix is a humanized monoclonal antibody drug used to treat HIV patients. The drug is a C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) antagonist that protects healthy T cells from viral infection. The CCR5 receptor plays a crucial role in modulating immune cell trafficking to sites of inflammation. Because of the drug’s ability to mitigate the cytokine storm which is common in COVID-19 fatalities, it has become the basis for its study as a potential COVID-19 treatment.
Leronlimab- Vyrologix appears to be a powerful treatment with hardly any drug-related serious adverse events. CytoDyn’s recent treatment of patients under eIND (Emergency Investigational New Drug) with leronlimab for COVID-19 infection have shown impressive results as the drug reduced the plasma viral load and restored the immune function by day 7.5,
CytoDyn has already completed its Phase 2 clinical trial for COVID-19, a double-blinded, randomized clinical trial for mild-to-moderate COVID-19 patients in the U.S. The company has also recently announced that they have completed the enrollment of 394 patients in its Phase 2b/3 randomized clinical trial for the severe-to-critically ill COVID-19 population.
Cytodyn has appointed Chiral Pharma, a subsidiary of New Marketlink Pharmaceutical Corporation (NMPC) as its authorized partner for the distribution of Leronlimab-Vyrologix to the Philippines subject to registration approval of the Philippine Food and Drug Administration. Through the partnership, the companies are working to register Leronlimab under a licensed physician’s request for Compassionate Special Permit (CSP). It is the desire of Cytodyn and Chiral Pharma to make Leronlimab immediately available to patients with Covid-19.
