Axcella To Test NASH Candidate In Long COVID Patients

Axcella Health Inc AXLA has announced a new clinical program investigating AXA1125 as a potential treatment for patients with Long COVID. Symptoms last for months following recovery from the infection.
The treatment prospect will be compared against placebo in about 40 patients in the U.K. twice a day for 28 days starting later this year.
AXA1125 is meant to treat chronic fatigue and muscle weakness, some of the most common symptoms of long COVID.
The primary goal of the drug is to improve mitochondrial function within skeletal muscle by measuring changes in phosphocreatine recovery time.
The trial will also look at a six-minute walk test, fatigue levels, and the safety and tolerability of the oral drug.
The biotech is already investigating the drug in a phase 2b study in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the most severe case of fatty liver disease.
In preclinical studies and two clinical trials, AXA1125 showed the ability to restore homeostasis and mitochondrial function.
Price Action: AXLA shares are down 1.71% at $2.75 during the market session on the last check Tuesday.