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Ascletis Begins China Trial of Combo Treatment for COVID-19

publication date: Feb 27, 2020
 | 
author/source: Richard Daverman, PhD

Ascletis Pharma (HK: 1672) of Hangzhou has started a China trial of its combination of Ganovo® and Ritonavir as a COVID-19 treatment. The trial, led by Dr. Hongyi Chen, the director of the Ninth Hospital of Nanchang, has already discharged three patients who met China standards for recovery from the infection. Ganovo®, Ascletis' oral protease inhibitor for hepatitis C virus, was approved for China use in June 2018. Ritonavir is a generic antiretroviral often used as part of combination treatments for HIV/AIDS.

Ascletis says Ganovo® is the first direct-acting Anti-viral Agent (DAA) developed by a domestic company in China.

On February 16, 2020, the COVID-19 clinical trial was approved by the ethics committee of the Ninth Hospital of Nanchang. The first patient diagnosed with the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia was enrolled for the treatment of Ganovo® and ritonavir combination therapy on February 17, 2020.

"We are excited that Ascletis, as a leading Chinese pharmaceutical company in anti-viral field, with years of technical precipitation, the developed anti-viral drugs now is being used in clinical studies on the treatment of HCP," said Dr. Jinzi J. Wu, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Ascletis.

Ascletis detailed its pipeline, divided into three therapeutic areas:

• HCV: one commercial product, one near commercial stage and two R&D stage candidates. Ganovo® (Danoprevir) is the first direct-acting anti-viral agent for hepatitis C, developed by a domestic firm in China.
• HBV: one commercial stage product and three R&D stage drug candidates. Pegasys® (Peginterferon alfa-2a) is a leading marketed pegylated interferon for hepatitis B&C partnered with Roche.
• NASH (Non-Alcoholic SteatoHepatitis): three R&D stage drug candidates against three different targets for combination treatments.

See our other articles on Ascletis.

Disclosure: none.

 


 

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