BerGenBio has presented a combined analysis of data from two Phase II studies investigating bemcentinib in hospitalised COVID-19 patients.

Data was presented from the UKRI PhaseII ACCORD2 platform study, sponsored by University Hospital Southampton, UK and BGBC020, BerGenBio’s open-label Phase II study conducted in South Africa and India.

In total, 179 eligible patients were enrolled across both studies between May 2020 and March 2021, randomly allocated on an open-label basis to treatment with bemcentinib in addition to standard of care (SoC) compared to SoC alone. The two studies shared an identical design, and combined data showed encouraging survival benefit of 96.5% vs 91.2%, with fewer deaths within 29 days of enrolment in bemcentinib treated patients (1 of 30 and 2 of 58, 3.4%) versus SoC (5 of 34 and 3 of 57, 8.8%), respectively.

“We remain confident that bemcentinib could prove a valuable treatment option for patients severely affected by COVID-19 and reduce their need for ventilation for recovery.”

“We are pleased to present these encouraging data at ECCMID. As the data has matured, we can see that bemcentinib offered a survival benefit to patients and we remain confident that bemcentinib could prove a valuable treatment option for patients severely affected by COVID-19 and reduce their need for ventilation for recovery. We’ll continue to provide updates as our development activities to treat COVID-19 patients evolve,” says Richard Godfrey, CEO of BerGenBio.

Bemcentinib was well tolerated throughout both studies. An independent data monitoring committee has reviewed each study and concluded there is no evidence of safety concerns from the Phase II evaluation in COVID-19 patients. In a separate preclinical analysis, bemcentinib’s mechanism of action has been shown to be independent of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. In vitro analysis of alpha and beta COVID-19 virus variants has shown continued bemcentinib efficacy.

Photo of Richard Godfrey: Nils-Olav Mevatne