Vicore Pharma has announced that the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a patent covering the use of C21 to treat infections caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) coronavirus (CoV), including SARS-CoV-2.

“COVID-19 may be just a few mutations away from evading existing vaccines, and we know that even vaccinated people can both pass on the infection and become ill themselves,” says Carl-Johan Dalsgaard, CEO of Vicore Pharma. “This C21/CoV patent gives Vicore patent protection in the US market until December 2040.”

A recent Phase 2 trial

A major clinical impact of C21 on respiratory function in COVID-19 was documented in a recent phase 2 trial showing that C21 reduced the need for supplemental oxygen in hospitalized patients by 90%. An ongoing international phase 3 study (ATTRACT-3) involving around 600 COVID-19 patients is expected to deliver top-line data in H1 2022.

“The use of C21 to promote accelerated resolution of lung damage by SARS-CoV-2 and related conronaviruses is a promising and innovative therapeutic approach,” says Johan Raud, CSO of Vicore. “Vicore is also presently pursuing equivalent protection for this innovation outside the US.”

Photo of Carl-Johan Dalsgaard: HealthCap