In the iMPact project, the consortium advanced MP1032, a novel COVID-19 therapeutic, towards Phase IIb/Phase III clinical trials. MP1032 is an enrichment of the current portfolio of COVID-19 therapeutics because it is the first-in-class auto-regulated drug targeting reactive oxygen species, which play an important role in both the mild and moderate stages of COVID-19. MP1032 does not suppress the immune system due to its unique self-regulating ability and is therefore a promising addition to the existing portfolio of drugs. Furthermore, MP1032 has broad and comparable antiviral activity against all SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern appeared so far. Hence, it could be effective in treating SARS-CoV-2 infections regardless of current and potential future variants, which is a major advantage over other drugs on the market.
Besides the direct contribution of the iMPact project to the treatment of COVID-19 patients, there was also a lot of scientific knowledge generated. Firstly, on the disease progression from moderate to severe and critical COVID-19 stages. By closely monitoring hospitalized COVID-19 patients, we will now be able to better understand and predict in which patients the disease will progress, and which patients will be cured quickly. This is especially important in relation to specific co-morbidities, which increase the risk of disease progression and even mortality.
Since the patients in this study received MP1032 plus standard of care (SoC), the results showed also that drug-drug interactions of MP1032 with other anti-viral drugs or corticosteroids, mostly given as SoC, are very unlikely and no significant side effects in this direction were reported. Those findings clearly support the potential of MP1032 also in combination with e. g. corticosteroids as an effective treatment of several infectious diseases, not limited to SARS-CoV-2. As MP1032 has shown a favorable safety profile, it would also potentially be more suitable for older and multi-morbid patients with a wide range of comorbidities and medications. Altogether, the findings and the easy intake of MP1032 makes the molecule also interesting for early intervention and prevention of symptomatic disease in non-hospitalized patients.
By engaging with at least one large European trial network (RECOVER or EU-RESPONSE), we ensure that all data and knowledge gained from the iMPact project will benefit the scientific community and can be used to deepen our understanding of the development of COVID-19 in the future.
