Candidate: SK1-I
Type: Sphingosine kinase 1 inhibitor
Status: Enzo said April 29 it was exploring avenues for developing SK1-I as a potential treatment for COVID-19, based on positive results generated in a lupus model and prior work demonstrating the anti-inflammatory activity of the compound in animal models of other immune disorders and on isolated human blood cells. In February, Enzo reported the publication of research showing that SK1-I decreased Interferon signature, pDC activation and glomerulonephritis, the inflammation of the filtration units of the kidney, in a chemically induced mouse model of lupus. The research showed that SK1-I reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines including Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and Interferon-alpha and -beta in the animal model.
The company also said it was issued U.S. Patent No. 10,624,863, “Sphingosine Kinase Type 1 Inhibitors and Uses Thereof.” The patent was the latest member of a family of issued U.S. patents that cover SK1-I and related compounds and their use in the treatment of various cancers and immune-inflammatory disorders. The patents are co-owned by Enzo and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and exclusively licensed by VCU to Enzo.
VistaGen is currently preparing for Phase III development of PH94B for treatment of SAD.
COVID-19: 200 Candidates and Counting
To navigate through the >200 potential therapeutic and vaccine options for COVID-19, GEN has grouped the candidates into four broad categories based on their developmental and (where applicable) clinical progress:
● FRONT RUNNER – the most promising therapeutics/vaccines based on clinical progress, favorable data or both.
● DEFINITELY MAYBE – earlier phases with promising partners, or more advanced candidates in development that have generated uneven data.
● KEEPING AN EYE ON… – interesting technology, attracting notable partners, or both, but preliminary data.
● TOO SOON TO TELL – longshots pending additional experimental and/or clinical data.
GEN has also tagged the most common treatment types:
● ANTIVIRAL
● VAX
● ANTIBODY
● RNA
