New Trials of COVID-19 Treatments Get Underway in Russia, Korea

Two new studies of potential treatments for COVID-19 infections are in the works, one in Russia, the other in South Korea.

Israel-based RedHill Biopharma has received approval from Russia’s Ministry of Health to start a phase 2/3 trial of  Yeliva (opaganib) for severe COVID-19 patients. The Russian trial will evaluate the drug in 270 hospitalized COVID-19 patients who require supplemental oxygen.

RedHill is also enrolling patients in a separate phase 2 trial in the U.S., evaluating Yeliva in severe COVID-19 patients.

Meanwhile, South Korea-based Celltrion has initiated a phase 1 trial of its investigational antiviral antibody treatment for COVID-19 patients. The small Korean trial will evaluate the antibody’s safety in 32 healthy volunteers who have not been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Celltrion is also set to conduct a phase 1 trial of the antiviral for treatment of mild COVID-19 patients in Europe, and it plans to launch a global trial investigating it as a preventative treatment. — Jordan Williams