Synairgen's drug shows reduced risk of severe disease in COVID-19 patients

The trial, which used interferon beta, showed that patients who were given Synairgen's formulation had a 79% lower risk of developing severe disease compared to placebo. Patients who received the drug, SNG001, were more than twice as likely to recover from COVID-19 as those on placebo, the company said.

Synairgen Plc said on Monday its drug helped reduce the risk of developing severe diseases in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, according to data from a trial of more than 100 people in the United Kingdom. The trial, which used interferon beta, showed that patients who were given Synairgen's formulation had a 79% lower risk of developing a severe disease compared to placebo.

Patients who received the drug, SNG001, were more than twice as likely to recover from COVID-19 as those on placebo, the company said. Interferon beta is a naturally occurring protein, which regulates the body's antiviral responses.