Pharming Reports Positive Results from Compassionate Use of Ruconest in COVID-19 Patients

Pharming reported positive results from COVID-19 patients treated with its C1 esterase inhibitor Ruconest (conestat alfa) in a compassionate use program in Switzerland.

Ruconest is approved for treatment of hereditary angioedema (HAE), an immune disease caused by low levels or improper function of C1-esterase inhibitor.

The drug was administered to five COVID-19 patients with severe pneumonia. Fever resolved in four of the five patients within 48 hours and inflammation significantly decreased, the company said.

Pharming is planning a clinical trial of Ruconest in up to 150 hospitalized COVID-19 patients.