We have been conducting an exploratory translational study, called EXPLORE COVID-19, in collaboration with La Timone, North and Laveran hospitals and the Marseille Immunopôle/AP-HM immunoprofiling laboratory at La Timone hospital, Marseille, to analyze immune cells in COVID-19 patients at different stages of the disease. Researchers reported an increase in soluble C5a, a highly inflammatory peptide of the complement cascade, which was elevated based on the severity of the disease in patients with pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
On April 28, 2020, we announced that the first patient was dosed in a randomized, double-blind Phase II clinical trial, evaluating the safety and efficacy of our anti-C5aR antibody, avdoralimab, in COVID-19 patients with severe pneumonia. The primary objective of this investigator-sponsored trial, named FORCE (FOR COVID-19 Elimination), is to improve the proportion of COVID-19 patients with severe pneumonia who no longer need to be hospitalized, and to reduce the need for and duration of mechanical ventilation in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia complicated by ARDS.
For more info: First patient dosed in avdoralimab Phase II clinical trial in COVID-19 patients with severe pneumonia
and MARSEILLE-BASED TASKFORCE ANNOUNCES THE RESULTS OF EXPLORE COVID-19 TRANSLATIONAL STUDY