RedHill Biopharma announces new U.S. coronavirus patent for opaganib

RedHill Biopharma announced the issue of a new U.S. patent for identification of a novel biomarker of coronavirus pneumonia prognostic for potential opaganib efficacy in treating COVID-19, valid through 2041. Guy Goldberg, RedHill’s Chief Business Officer, said: “This exciting new patent is based on compelling published post-hoc data from opaganib’s Phase 2/3 study, showing that patients with less than or equal to60% FiO2 levels had better outcomes after 14 days’ opaganib treatment. These outcomes included an increase in patients no longer requiring supplemental oxygen by day 14 of opaganib treatment, a reduction in patients requiring intubation/mechanical ventilation and a clinically meaningful 62% reduction in mortality. This is a very interesting addition to the already strong patent portfolio protecting opaganib.”