Compelling preclinical COVID-19 data showed that idronoxil, the active ingredient in Veyonda, is effective in stopping cytokines and signaling molecules that regulate immune and inflammatory responses.
() has applied for a patent for its cancer drug Veyonda® to combat septic shock after convincing preclinical COVID-19 data.
Septic shock is the critical drop in blood pressure or blood flow that can lead to multiple organ failure and possible death.
It is believed to be responsible for an estimated 10 million deaths worldwide each year, with an estimated additional 3 million additional deaths from the current pandemic.
Veyonda is being developed as a cancer drug and, among other things, achieves the blockage of a signaling pathway called STING, which serves as a trigger for an immune response and the repair of damaged tissue.
First, block STING in the clinic
Graham Kelly, CEO and General Manager of Noxopharm, said ongoing studies of Veyonda and its active ingredient Idronoxil have shown that Veyonda “appears to be the first drug that blocks STING in the clinic”.
“With an estimated number of people dying from cancer every three seconds and septic shock every three seconds worldwide, the commercial opportunity for Veyonda has just doubled, underscoring the economic importance of the latest patent filing,” he said.
“The key message from the preclinical data is Idronoxil’s ability to block the production of a number of cytokines, including those believed to be implicated in septic shock, and specifically the cytokines associated with, via STING blockade excessive coagulation.
“Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and septic shock are associated with increases in blood levels of several cytokines, and there is general consensus that blocking CRS requires reducing a number, if not all, of the cytokines involved.
“Previous studies with COVID-19 patients with drugs that block individual cytokines have either failed for this reason or have proven to be moderately effective at best.
“Veyonda’s ability to block the production of multiple cytokines is distinctive and sets it apart as an exciting treatment prospect for septic shock.”
Market potential
Septic shock occurs in response to viral and bacterial infections like COVID-19 and the flu when an inappropriate, dramatic, and self-destructive inflammatory response occurs.
A large number of inflammatory chemicals known as cytokines are released into the blood, causing a number of problems such as clotting that can lead to damage to multiple organs and death.
The chemical reaction is known as CRS, and the whole process is known as septic shock. Some persistent COVID-19 symptoms such as headache, difficulty breathing, fatigue, and organ damage are the result of septic shock.
Currently, septic shock is treated with supportive drugs and fluids to restore blood pressure, anti-inflammatory agents such as dexamethasone and antibiotics. So far, however, a treatment has yet to be developed that aims to safely lower cytokine levels.
It is estimated that the global sepsis therapeutics market is expected to grow to $ 6.1 billion by 2027.
“The goal of Veyonda is to block the cytokine cascade that results from an inappropriately high STING response and the goal is to use Veyonda in patients with poor lung function and prevent them from falling over into CRS, thereby reducing the incidence of Long-term illness will reduce disability and death and take the burden off the highly provisioned medical services, “added Kelly.
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– Daniel Paproth
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