Rigel’s Fostamatinib Hits Mark in Phase 2 Trial of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

Rigel Pharmaceuticals has released positive topline data from a phase 2 trial of fostamatinib, an oral spleen kinase (SYK) inhibitor, for treating hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

In the study conducted in partnership with the National Institutes of Health, there were three deaths in the placebo group of 29 patients vs. zero deaths in the fostamatinib arm of 30 patients, following 29 days of treatment.

Patients given fostamatinib saw a “more rapid decline in a number of inflammatory biomarkers, that have previously been shown to be associated with the course of COVID-19 disease, compared to those receiving placebo,” said Rigel’s Chief Medical Officer Wolfgang Dummer.