RedHill Biopharma Ltd (RDHL)

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RedHill Announces New Opaganib Chinese Patent Against Ebola Virus Valid Through 2035

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/redhill-announces-opaganib-chinese-patent-110000975.html

The new Chinese patent for opaganib as a therapy for inhibition of single-stranded RNA virus replication (notably Ebola Disease Virus) is valid through 2035 and adds to opaganib's strong global intellectual property portfolio across multiple indications
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U.S. Army studies suggest that opaganib may be the first host-directed molecule to show activity in vivo in Ebola virus disease, delivering a statistically significant increase in survival; separately, opaganib demonstrated robust synergistic effect in vitro when combined with remdesivir (Veklury®; Gilead Sciences, Inc.), improving viral inhibition while maintaining cell viability
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A host-directed and potentially broad acting twice-daily oral, small molecule, opaganib is in development for multiple indications, including COVID-19, acute respiratory distress syndrome, oncology and two U.S. government-sponsored countermeasures programs for Acute Radiation Syndrome and Sulfur Mustard exposure. It has a demonstrated safety and efficacy profile, and is well-suited to counter nuclear / chemical exposure and viral pandemic scenarios, being viral mutation-resistant, and easy to administer and distribute

TEL-AVIV, Israel and RALEIGH, N.C., May 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- RedHill Biopharma Ltd. (NASDAQ: RDHL) ("RedHill" or the "Company"), a specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced the issue of a new Chinese patent Notice of Allowance covering opaganib[1] as a therapyg for inhibition of single-stranded RNA virus replication (notably Ebola Disease Virus) from the Chinese National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), valid through 2035 (Chinese Patent Application No.: 202110229970.9 issued April 29, 2024).

"This new patent adds to the existing intellectual property portfolio protecting opaganib across multiple indications and represents the first China patent in the Ebola patent family," said Guy Goldberg, RedHill's Chief Business Officer. "U.S. Army studies suggest that opaganib may be the first host-directed molecule to show activity in vivo in Ebola virus disease, delivering a statistically significant increase in survival. Targeting multiple indications, including selection by two U.S. government countermeasures programs for Acute Radiation Syndrome and Sulfur Mustard exposure, oral opaganib, has a demonstrated safety and efficacy profile and is well-suited to viral pandemic scenarios, being viral mutation-resistant, and easy to administer and distribute."

About Ebola virus disease:

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Ebola disease is a rare and often deadly illness, caused by infection by one of a group of four viruses, known as ebolaviruses, that are found primarily in sub-Saharan Africa and are known as: Zaire, Sudan, Taï Forest (formerly Côte d'Ivoire) and Bundibugyo. Transmission of the disease is mostly through contact with an infected animal (bat or nonhuman primate) or a sick or dead person infected with an ebolavirus. The course of the illness typically progresses from "dry" symptoms initially (such as fever, aches and pains, and fatigue), and then progresses to "wet" symptoms (such as diarrhea, vomiting and unexplained hemorrhaging, bleeding or bruising) as the person becomes sicker. There are currently only two FDA-approved therapies to treat EVD caused by the Ebola virus, species Zaire ebolavirus, in adults and children; Inmazeb™ (atoltivimab/maftivimab/odesivimab, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc), a combination of three monoclonal antibodies and Ebanga™ (ansuvimab-zykl, Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, LP), a single monoclonal antibody. Both are intravenously infused direct acting monoclonal antibody antivirals that bind to glycoproteins on the Ebola virus's surface to prevent the virus from entering a person's cells. There is an urgent need for host-directed small molecule therapies that may be effective against multiple strains of ebolavirus, less likely to be impacted by viral mutation, and that are easy to store, distribute and administer, especially in areas where healthcare services and infrastructures may be sub-optimal.