UNION therapeutics has reported that its Covid-19 candidates, inhaled and intranasal niclosamide (UNI91103 and UNI91104), showed a strong safety profile in a Phase I study, meeting the primary endpoints.
UNI91103 and UNI91104 are based on a proprietary salt form and formulation of niclosamide, which can be administered locally to the respiratory tract.
The randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, multi-ascending dose trial enrolled 44 healthy subjects. They were grouped into five cohorts, where 34 individuals received UNI911 and ten subjects were given placebo.
In the study, dose-proportional pharmacokinetic was observed with no indications of systemic accumulation of the drug in the blood.
With this encouraging safety and pharmacokinetic results of inhaled and intranasal niclosamide, the company noted that the products will be analysed as a potential treatment (UNI91104) and prophylaxis (UNI91103) for Covid-19.
In a separate development, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has selected NeuroRx’s Aviptadil as one of two drugs to be analysed in Phase III multi-center clinical trial to be conducted in the US as well as several countries.
