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Noxopharm, a clinical-stage Australian oncology drug development company, has identified a clinical trial opportunity that could help reduce the mortality rate of COVID-19.

Noxopharm has a primary focus on the development of Veyonda^®, with the active ingredient, idronoxil. Hudson Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne has found in preclinical research that idronoxil inhibits a range of inflammatory mediators known as cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), that are involved in a process known as a cytokine response syndrome (or cytokine storm). Cytokine storm is associated with an excessive and abnormal inflammatory response and is believed to be responsible for most deaths in patients with COVID-19 infection.

Noxopharm will pursue a potential clinical study to evaluate the use of idronoxil in patients considered to be at risk of developing COVID-19 associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multi-organ failure.

“Our research indicates that idronoxil is a potent inhibitor of IL-6 production in the context of tissue damage seen in ARDS,” said Dr. Michael Gantier, Head of the Nucleic Acids and Innate Immunity Laboratory at Hudson Institute. “However, unlike strategies targeting IL-6 itself, our findings suggest that idronoxil blocks the process of IL-6 production along with that of other key mediators of organ failure.”

“Noxopharm is focused on developing Veyonda^® as a treatment for late-stage prostate cancer,” said Dr. Graham Kelly, Noxopharm CEO. “However, when you are told by respected scientists that your lead drug candidate is working in a way that might prevent thousands of deaths in a global pandemic, you don’t walk away from that possibility. Having idronoxil already in the clinic means that we are in a position to commence clinical testing.”

About Noxopharm
Noxopharm is a clinical-stage Australian oncology drug development company with offices in Sydney and New York. The Company has a primary focus on the development of Veyonda^® and is the major shareholder in the non-oncology drug development company, Nyrada Inc.