Keeping tabs on Covid-19: Starpharma creates slow release remdesivir nanoparticle and Saama and iNDX.Ai launch AI platform to expedite clinical research efforts

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected all corners of the planet, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths. While stories from news outlets indicate the peak of the infection has passed in most European countries, cases of the disease continue to rise in other parts of the world, especially Latin America and Africa.

In an effort to slow the spread of the disease and prevent a second wave, pharma companies around the world are continuously looking to advance new methods of treatment. This week’s round up dives into developments from companies based in Australia and the US.

Starpharma experimenting with Gilead’s antiviral drug for easier administration

Melbourne-based Starpharma has announced it has applied its novel DEP drug delivery technology to create a long‑acting, water-soluble version of remdesivir. Remdesivir is an antiviral drug, currently being developed by Gilead to treat Covid-19 and has emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of Covid-19.

Starpharma strived to release DEP remdesivir to allow for less frequent dosing and for use in non-hospital settings such as care homes. DEP remdesivir enables subcutaneous or under the skin injections rather than intravenous infusion, allowing for outpatient treatments and reducing the burden on hospitals.

Dr. Jackie Fairley, Chief Executive Officer of Starpharma, commented: “Given the limited treatment options available for Covid-19 patients, Starpharma has been actively reviewing development programs globally, and evaluating where Starpharma’s proprietary DEP technology has potential to improve delivery, expand use or reduce frequency of dosing.

“The ability to deliver remdesivir via a long-acting, subcutaneous injection has the potential to expand its application in countries with less developed healthcare systems and help improve patient convenience,” Fairley added.

Covid-19 command center aims to accelerate clinical research by individual sponsors to combat disease

Saama Technologies, Inc., a clinical AI analytics platform, has partnered with iNDX.Ai, a data analytics and translation research platform, to launch a Covid-19 command center to accelerate research and development programs for therapies to prevent and treat Covid-19.

The Covid-19 command center was created to provide sponsors of clinical trials pursuing in-house Covid-19 research with an AI-powered data analytics platform. The center includes data from approximately 8,500 patients from ongoing Covid-19 clinical trials in China, South Korea and the US to help researchers optimize study design, patient selection, site activation and scientific analysis by providing them with an AI platform for visualizing, analyzing, and interrogating data to get products out to market faster.

Suresh Katta, Founder and Chief Executive Office of Saama Technologies, said: “Saama wants all life science companies, whether they are engaged in public or private research efforts, to have access to the best possible analytics platform so they can expedite promising Covid-19 clinical trials and bring critical vaccines and treatments to the market as soon as possible.

“The Covid-19 command center is customized to meet immediate needs related to research on the novel coronavirus, but can also be used more broadly for other infectious disease clinical development efforts now and in the future.”

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