An experimental HIV drug, proven effective in treating COVID-19 patients, is undergoing phase 2 testing with the Food and Drug Administration. The drug could potentially be approved for use within four weeks, according to its manufacturer.
Leronlimab, developed by biotech company CytoDyn, was used to treat severely ill patients in New York City hospitals, resulting in some being removed from ventilators.
CytoDyn CEO Nader Pourhassan expressed optimism, saying, “I think the FDA will be willing to work with us. I am hoping it will be expedited. I don’t see how the FDA couldn’t approve it.”
Pourhassan also emphasized the urgent need for a therapy to aid COVID-19 patients on ventilators, citing a study in China indicating a mortality rate of over 85% in this patient population.
Initial studies have shown that leronlimab can effectively reduce the overactive immune response, known as a cytokine storm, triggered by the coronavirus infection, which can lead to pneumonia and death.
Pourhassan, in response to the promising results, shared his emotional reaction: “[I] cried for about five minutes. It was very, very emotional. We’re hoping we can save millions of lives.”