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Edesa Biotech Expands COVID-19 Clinical Study to Colombia
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 11, 2021 / Edesa Biotech, Inc. (NASDAQ:EDSA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has received approval from the
About this update from Edesa Biotech, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 11, 2021 / Edesa Biotech, Inc. (NASDAQ:EDSA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has received approval from the Ministry of Health (INVIMA) in Colombia to expand the clinical trial of its investigational drug EB05 in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The study was previously approved in the U.S. and Canada, where enrollment is ongoing. The company reported that it has enlisted the support of a local research organization and will begin activating hospital sites in Bogota, Medellín, Bucaramanga, and other major metropolitan centers.EB05 is a clinical-stage monoclonal antibody that Edesa believes could regulate the overactive and dysfunctional immune response associated with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) - the leading cause of death in COVID-19 patients. The drug is delivered intravenously in a single infusion to hospitalized COVID-19 patients.EB05 is intended to fill a critical gap in combatting the pandemic - alongside anti-viral treatments and vaccines under development by others. Based on previous clinical data and the mechanism of action, the company believes that modulating the TLR4 signaling pathway could reduce the number of ICU patients and decrease the need for mechanical ventilation, ultimately saving lives.Dr. Par Nijhawan, Chief Executive Officer of Edesa, said the investigative sites in Colombia are among the best in Latin America, with well-established programs adhering to Good Clinical Practices and other internationally accepted standards, and the company looks forward to joining other pharmaceutical companies in extending innovative treatments to nations in Latin America.\"We greatly appreciate the actions being taken by the Colombian government to review and approve our clinical study. Collaborating with physicians and hospitals in Colombia allows us to complete this important study more quickly and reaffirms our commitment to provide broad access to a promising experimental treatment to people around the world,\" said Dr. Nijhawan.Edesa's drug works by directly inhibiting a pattern recognition receptor called toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), which has been shown to mediate inflammation as a result of infection by SARS-CoV2 and other respiratory infections, such as influenza. Recent third-party studies have demonstrated that severe COVID-19 patients frequently d...