Vicore Pharma doses first COVID-19 patient in the ATTRACT study in India

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Gothenburg, July 27, 2020 – Vicore Pharma Holding AB (publ), a pharmaceutical company dedicated to developing innovative medicines for rare lung disorders, today announces that the first patient in the ATTRACT study has been dosed in India at Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune.

Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune, has dosed the first patient, two more sites are fully approved and are also expected to start enrollment this week and five more sites are being initiated. “With 40,000 new cases per day and still increasing, the prerequisites for a COVID-19 trial are dramatically different in India versus the UK”, says Mimi Flensburg, VP Clinical Development, Vicore Pharma.

The primary objective with the study, named ATTRACT (Angiotensin II Type Two Receptor Agonist Covid-19 Trial), is to investigate efficacy of VP01 (C21) on COVID-19 infection not requiring mechanical ventilation. These patients have an intense inflammatory drive in the lungs which can lead to acute respiratory failure if it progresses.

Study design

The study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in approximately 100 hospitalized COVID-19 patients with moderately severe disease who will get 100 mg of VP01 or placebo twice daily for seven days. The study will investigate the efficacy on inflammation, respiratory failure, and functional outcomes.

First in class molecule

VP01, a first in class low molecular weight angiotensin II receptor type 2 (AT2R) agonist, activates the “protective arm” of the renin angiotensin system (RAS). It is under development for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and is also being studied in Raynaud’s phenomenon in patients with systemic sclerosis. Internal preclinical findings with VP01 suggest that it may also be useful in the treatment of COVID-19.

VP01 could bypass negative effects of COVID-19

The RAS is understood to play a role in the development of COVID-19 because angiotensin II (ANG II) is upregulated and contributes to the inflammatory reaction in the lungs. Moreover, the protective arm of the RAS is disarmed by SARS-CoV-2 which binds to the enzyme ACE2 and thereby inhibits the conversion of ANG II to endogenous protective molecules stimulating the AT2R. Because VP01 directly stimulates the AT2R, the belief is that VP01 could bypass the negative effects of viruses like SARS-CoV-2 on the protective RAS functions.

For further information, please contact:

Carl-Johan Dalsgaard, CEO, tel: +46 70 975 98 63, carl-johan.dalsgaard@vicorepharma.com  

About Vicore Pharma Holding AB (publ)
Vicore Pharma is a rare disease pharmaceutical company focused on rare lung disorders and related indications. The company currently has three drug development programs, VP01, VP02 and VP03. 

VP01 aims to develop the substance C21 for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (“IPF”) and pulmonary fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (“SSc”). VP02 is based on a new formulation and delivery route of an existing immunomodulatory compound (an “IMiD”). VP02 focuses on the underlying disease and the severe cough associated with IPF. VP01 and VP02 are also being actively evaluated for other indications within the field of interstitial lung diseases which have a significant unmet need. VP03 includes follow-up molecules for VP01.

The company's shares (VICO) are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm’s main market. For more information, see www.vicorepharma.com.