LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - Clinical-stage drug development company Evgen Pharma announced on Monday that the first patient had now been enrolled and dosed in the 'STAR' trial of its 'SFX-01' treatment for acute respiratory infections.
The AIM-traded firm described the phase 2 and 3 trial as a randomised, placebo-controlled trial sponsored by the University of Dundee.

It said it would investigate whether its lead asset, SFX-01, could reduce the severity, or prevent the onset of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in patients with community-acquired pneumonia, who had been or were being tested for suspected Covid-19.

Patients could therefore present with Covid-19 or other respiratory diseases.

It said SFX-01 upregulates the Nrf2 pathway, which is part of the natural human defence against inflammatory and oxidative stress, such as the inflammation that occurs during a severe viral infection.

Preclinical studies showed that up-regulating the Nrf2 pathway reduced the severity of ARDS - the progressive lung damage observed in Covid-19 and pneumonia patients - which could result in the need for invasive ventilation in an intensive care unit.

"The initiation of enrolment is an important milestone for us and marks the first use of SFX-01 in respiratory disease, targeting the Nrf2 pathway. We remain hopeful that the outcome of this trial will reduce both the severity and duration of the disease for Covid-19 patients and those with pneumonia from other infective agents," said chief executive officer Dr Huw Jones.

At 1204 GMT, shares in Evgen Pharma were flat at 7.9p.

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