Kochi-based Drug Company To Start Phase 2b Trials Of Coronavirus Drug Next Week

: Admin : 2020-09-18

Chennai: PNB Vesper Life’s chief executive PN Balaram is upbeat the company’s experimental drug PNB-001 will be effective in treating symptoms of Covid-19. The Kochi-based pharma company is set to begin clinical trials on patients suffering from the disease next week. Balaram said the company received approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) on Friday to conduct phase 2b clinical trial of their proprietary drug PNB-001 (GPP-Baladol). He said the molecule is capable of treating fever, body pain and lung infection - conditions normally associated with Covid-19.

According to Balaram, the company had proposed testing the drug on two sets of people - one group that would consume only PNB's proprietary drug and another that would consume it along with other drugs to treat these other conditions. However, the government declined permission for it and, hence, the clinical trials will be done on patients who will also be consuming other drugs for their other conditions and symptoms.

“This is the first chemical entity in the phase 2 chemical trial in the world,” he said. “If it works, it will be a miracle molecule. We think it will give a much better effect than dexamethasone or any other steroids. This is also a very safe molecule because just a 100 mg capsule is required to get the effect on patients.

We are planning to complete the whole phase-II clinical trial within 60 days as the government is speeding up the approval process and recruiting patients may not be a big problem,” he said. The study will be conducted on 40 Covid-19 patients at Pune’s BMJ Medical College who are moderate patients on oxygen support.

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