Federal government signs four contracts for the development of COVID-19 medicines

Following an amendment to the COVID-19 Act by the Swiss parliament last March, in May 2021 the Federal Council approved the creation of a funding programme to guarantee the public a safe and rapid supply of innovative medicines to treat COVID-19. It commissioned the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) to implement the programme with the support of Innosuisse.

On the basis of selection criteria set out by the Federal Council, experts mandated by Innosuisse and the FOPH evaluated nine funding requests. The FOPH has decided to fund four projects from companies based in Switzerland.

Memo Therapeutics will receive CHF 10.5 million. Phase 1 clinical studies with COVAB 36 are planned to start in Q1 2022. COVAB 36 is a potent, fully-human monoclonal antibody for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections. COVAB 36 can be administered via inhalation, which could enhance patient acceptance. The project also includes the ability to rapidly develop a combination antibody partner for COVAB 36 targeted against emerging variants through an ultra-fast update process based on Memo Therapeutic AG’s leading antibody discovery platform.

Kinarus has been awarded a grant in the amount of CHF7 million. Kinarus is conducting two clinical studies of KIN001 in COVID-19. KINETIC, a randomized placebo-controlled trial of KIN001 in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, and KIN001-204, a randomized placebo-controlled trial in COVID-19 patients with mild-moderate symptoms. In April 2021, Kinarus enrolled the first patient in the KINETIC Phase 2 clinical trial of KIN001 in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The funds from the COVID-19 medicines program will enable Kinarus to rapidly advance both clinical trials. Preclinical data have shown that KIN001 has potent antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 and emerging variants of interest. KIN001 has also been shown to significantly reduce lung inflammation and fibrosis by blocking multiple cytokines and inflammatory proteins. Based on these data, Kinarus’ lead drug candidate has the potential to be an effective therapy for all severities of COVID-19 and variants of interest. 

GeNeuro receives CHF 6.7 million in funding to support a Phase 2 clinical trial with temelimab in patients suffering from Long- COVID with neurological and psychiatric symptoms. Temelimab is an antibody already being tested against neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis. The clinical trial supported by the FOPH will be a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study on Long-COVID patients with severe neuropsychiatric symptoms that prevent them from continuing their daily and professional activities. This study will start in the spring of next year.

Noorik Biopharmaceuticals Ltd. Is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company repurposing micro-dose ambrisentan for the treatment of kidney, liver, and respiratory diseases. Micro-dose ambrisentan is currently under clinical evaluation in adult patients with Severe COVID-19. The primary objective of the ongoing trial is to determine whether ambrisentan can prevent the progression to respiratory failure and reduce the need for mechanical ventilation, among others. The investment, under the Federal Funding Programme for COVID-19 Medicines initiative, will enable the acceleration of the clinical development of ambrisentan. 

(Press release / SK)