Humanised monoclonal antibody drug leronlimab has shown ‘impressive results’ in a small observational Covid-19 study, said the drug’s developer CytoDyn CEO Dr Nader Pourhassan in a conference call.
Originally developed to treat HIV, the drug is a CCR5 antagonist that inhibits viral entry. It is undergoing Phase II clinical trials as a treatment for HIV and secured fast-track designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The drug’s ability to mitigate cytokine storm is the basis for its study as a potential Covid-19 treatment.