RedHill Biopharma Says Opaganib Can Potentially Work Against COVID-19 Omicron Subvariants

RedHill Biopharma Ltd's RDHL opaganib (ABC294640), an oral drug candidate for hospitalized COVID-19 patients, demonstrated potent in vitro efficacy against the omicron variant while maintaining host cell viability.
The Company says that based on the new and previously announced data, opaganib's dual antiviral and anti-inflammatory suggested mechanism is expected to act independently of viral spike protein mutations and remain effective against omicron sub-variants.
In a prespecified analysis of all Phase 2/3 study patients, opaganib improved the median time to viral RNA clearance by at least 4 days, achieving viral RNA clearance in a median of 10 days, while the median for clearance was not reached by the end of 14-days treatment in the placebo arm.
Related: RedHill, Kukbo Ink Oral Opaganib Licensing Pact For COVID-19 In South Korea
Additional prespecified analyses in key subpopulations from the Phase 2/3 study also demonstrated a 70% reduction in mortality and a 34% benefit in time to recovery for patients treated with opaganib.
Regulatory submissions and discussions in the U.S., Europe, the U.K., and other countries are progressing.
Price Action: RDHL shares are down 10.20% at $2.10 during the market session on the last check Monday.