Recipharm announced that Erdosteine will be tested in a clinical study as an add-on treatment for COVID-19 patients.
The clinical study, which began on 7th April, is being conducted in clinical centres actively involved in COVID-19 treatment in Milan and Bergamo. Both Milan and Bergamo are based in Lombardy, the Italian region most affected by the virus.
The study, which involves around 100 patients affected by COVID-19 and discharged from hospitals, is evaluating if Erdosteine improves respiratory symptoms (dyspnea, cough, asthenia) and reduces the time to reach a negative test result for SARS-CoV-2. First results from the study are expected in two months.
The hypothesis is that the multiple mechanisms of action of Erdosteine (antioxidant, mucoactive, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic enhancer) may improve respiratory function and could thus potentially benefit patients affected by COVID-19.
Erdosteine was discovered and developed in Italy at Recipharm’s facility in Paderno Dugnano and is in Italy and several other countries indicated for the treatment of acute and chronic respiratory diseases including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Dr. Katherine Salessi Nia, Medical Manager for Erdosteine, commented: ”There is already some rationale that mucolytic drugs could be part of the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Considering the specific properties of our molecule and the proven clinical results in COPD treatment, we truly hope that Erdosteine could play a role in the treatment of this pandemic pathology”.