ImmuPharma shares surge on Covid-19 potential

Specialist drug discovery and development company ImmuPharma updated the market on activities around Covid-19 on Thursday, having expanded its pipeline in late March to include three new 'anti-infective' programmes, one of which was in antivirals.

The AIM-traded firm said investigation of the application of the ‘Ureka’ peptide technologies within that antivirals program suggested the potential to create effective anti-fusion peptides, with the goal to prevent virus entry into the host cells, which could lead to novel peptide based antiviral therapies.

It said further exploratory work was continuing on that programme.

As part of an overall evaluation of how the company could apply its patented technologies to the fight against the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, within its 'autoimmunity' therapy area, it said it had also been considering the way that ‘Lupuzor’ interacts with the immune system, and any potential application to Covid-19.

In that respect, it noted the results of a recent study conducted at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, suggesting that Covid-19 patients and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients experiencing flares could share similar inflammatory symptoms, underpinned by similar mechanisms.

It explained that Lupuzor is a modulator of the immune response, and an anti-inflammatory agent, which has activity against SLE - an autoimmune disease - as well as against other inflammatory diseases.

ImmuPharma, together with its US licencing partner Avion Pharmaceuticals, said it would be progressing Lupuzor into a new optimised international phase 3 trial this year in lupus patients.

Given the findings of the Atlanta research group, the company suggested that Lupuzor could help to reduce, or perhaps prevent, the occurrence of the cytokine storm seen in Covid-19 patients.

It said further exploratory work was ongoing to assess Lupuzor's possible potential and clinical program in Covid-19 patients.

“As the Covid-19 pandemic has unfolded, ImmuPharma has been evaluating how it can best contribute its expertise and resources to help in the global response,” said chief executive officer Dimitri Dimitriou.

“Using our longstanding knowledge of peptide based technology, provides us with a number of opportunities, to help bring together a therapy that could be effective against the inflammation that causes the serious complications of Covid-19.

“We look forward to providing further updates when appropriate.”

At 1515 BST, shares in ImmuPharma were up 22% at 17.45p.