A small-molecule pharmaceutical company has found that a modified version of an erectile dysfunction drug has shown promise in treating coronavirus patients.
The company called NeuroRx developed a modified version of aviptadil, which is given along with another drug called phentolamine to treat erectile dysfunction (ED).
CEO of NeuroRx Dr. Jonathan Javitt developed a different version of aviptadil, which when administered with phentolamine, is “expected to provide a new and effective alternative for erectile dysfunction (ED) patients.”
Aviptadil is usually given via penile injections, which has been repurposed by Dr. Javitt and the new modified version of the drug is currently undergoing human trials for COVID-19 in the United States.
NeuroRx teamed up with Swiss drugmaker Relief Therapeutics to develop the modified version of aviptadil, called RLF-100. The drug companies are currently carrying out Phase II/III trials to understand the safety and efficacy of RLF-100 in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 infection.
The results of Phase I trials are not yet available; however, Dr. Javitt published a report on six patients who were given the drug outside the trials, adding the results have been promising.
According to The Pharmaceutical Business Review website, NeuroRx and Relief Therapeutics noted rapid recovery time in COVID-19 patients who were on ventilators after three days of the treatment.
Dr. Javitt told The Times of Israel, “If you ask me whether this is the cure to COVID, my answer is that I don’t know, but it shows promise, and I hope so.”
Citing harmful protein produced by the virus. Dr. Javitt explained, “As far as I know, this is the first drug to treat COVID with which the [lung] X-ray gets better, the blood oxygen gets better, and cytokines drop very quickly.”
“No other antiviral agent has demonstrated rapid recovery from viral infection and demonstrated laboratory inhibition of viral replication,” he added.
On Thursday, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted “Investigational New Drug (IND) permission to test RLF-100 (aviptadil) for inhaled use in patients with moderate and severe COVID-19 in order to prevent progression to respiratory failure,” according to the companies. NeuroRx and Relief Therapeutics said the inhaled version of RLF-100 will undergo clinical trials from the next month.
