Two of the four planned studies using DehydraTECH with antivirals are progressing -- comprised of a SARS-CoV-2 infected human cell culture study (VIRAL-C21-3) and an animal research pharmacokinetic study (VIRAL-A20-2)
Lexaria Bioscience Corp (NASDAQ:LEXX) (CSE:LXX) (OTCMKTS:LXR) announced Tuesday extensive progress in two of the four planned antiviral drug studies in its 2021 applied research and development (R&D) program.
“It’s been a very productive start into 2021 with a total of seven studies across our various research programs currently underway,” said Lexaria CEO Chris Bunka in a statement.
READ: Lexaria Bioscience updates on progress of its DehydraTECH CBD studies to treat high blood pressure
“Lexaria’s applied R&D programs are vital to generate the supportive data required to pursue either regulatory approvals or corporate relationships necessary for commercial launch. We expect great success this year and are eager to report study results as they become available,” Bunka added.
The company said that two of the four planned studies using DehydraTECH with antivirals are progressing -- comprised of one SARS-CoV-2 infected human cell culture study (VIRAL-C21-3) and one animal research pharmacokinetic study (VIRAL-A20-2).
The drugs being studied in Lexaria’s 2021 antiviral program not only target SARS-CoV-2/COVID 19 applications, but also have existing utility across additional infectious disease, allergic and other disease indications.
VIRAL-A20-2
Lexaria said the VIRAL-A20-2 dosing of the animals has begun and is scheduled to be completed by late March. This study is evaluating the rate of absorption and speed (pharmacokinetics or PK assessments) with which various new enhanced DehydraTECHTM experimental formulations – DehydraTECH 2.0 – deliver the drugs being studied to the bloodstream.
There are a total of 40 animals in this study which will evaluate the PK performance of DehydraTECH-processed Remdesivir and another antiviral drug known to target the main protease associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection for 48 hours following dosing. Enhanced DehydraTECH 2.0 formulations will be utilized in this study, which represent next-generation drug delivery enhancements not yet commercially available anywhere in the world.
Lexaria said the primary objective is to determine whether these drugs, after being processed with DehydraTECH, reach the bloodstream faster and more effectively. With the first two antiviral drugs Lexaria reported on in December 2020, Efavirenz and Darunavir, most commonly used for HIV/AIDS therapeutic purposes, DehydraTECH was able to significantly increase the quantity of drug reaching the bloodstream. Results should be reported in or around the second half of May.
VIRAL-C21-3
As for VIRAL-C21-3, the company said that all contract agreements are now in place with the third-party laboratory that will be conducting this study, and dosing is now expected to commence in April.
In this study, to be carried out under controlled conditions at a leading US biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) rated infectious disease laboratory, human cell cultures will be exposed to the infectious SARS-CoV-2 virus and then treated with both DehydraTECH processed drugs and non-DehydraTECH processed drugs.
Lexaria said evaluations will determine whether the DehydraTECH processed drugs are effective at killing the virus. Remdesivir and another antiviral drug known to target the main protease associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection are the two drugs that will be evaluated in this study and results should be reported in or around the first half of June.
Contact the author: patrick@proactiveinvestors.com
Follow him on Twitter @PatrickMGraham