The Dimerix Ltd (ASX: DXB) share price lifted higher today after the company announced the start of its second clinical study on lead drug candidate, DMX-200. At the time of writing, the Dimerix share price is up 6.1% at 26 cents.
What's driving the Dimerix share price?
The Dimerix share price is storming higher following the announcement of its international study into COVID-19 patients. Led by Professor Meg Jardine at the University of Sydney Australia, the clinical trial will collaborate with Professor Vivek Jha and The George Institute for Global Health, in India.
DMX-200 was chosen for a partner study of the controlled evaluation of angiotensin receptor blockers for COVID-19 respiratory disease (Clarity) study. The Clarity 2.0 will seek to monitor the treatment of DMX-200 in COVID-19 patients who are admitted to hospital.
The phase 3, Clarity 2.0 study will assess roughly 600 patients in India who have tested positive for coronavirus, using DMX-200 together with an angiotensin receptor blocker. The randomised, double blind, controlled study will use the World Health Organisation's (WHO) 7-point health score. At the 14-day treatment day mark, Dimerix will record the primary endpoint results. Recruits in the study will be administered the drug for a period of up to 28 days and followed up for a total of 6 months.
The DMX-200 aims to reduce damage from inflammatory immune cells by blocking signals and limiting movement predominately in the lungs. When infected with COVID-19, patients usually suffer from breathing complications, prior to the onset of acute respiratory distress syndrome.
What did management say?
Commenting on the potential applications of DMX-200, Professor Meg Jardine said:
We generally see that people with chronic health conditions that include inflammatory drivers, such as chronic kidney disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity, are also those who are more vulnerable to respiratory complications if they contract the SARS-CoV2 virus. Some of those inflammatory drivers interact with the blood pressure system which is why some common blood pressure medications may improve outcomes in COVID-19 disease.
Early results suggest that DMX-200 may have stronger anti-inflammatory effects when used in combination with these blood pressure medications. The Clarity and Clarity 2.0 studies are designed to answer whether these blood pressure medications, used alone or in combination with DMX-200, may alter the course of COVID-19 disease and provide a better outcome for patients.
Dimerix CEO and managing director Dr Nina Webster added:
Our lead candidate, DMX-200, has demonstrated efficacy across three different studies in patients with active inflammatory disease, and we are very pleased to support a second research study in COVID-19 patients as well as progressing DMX-200 into a Phase 3 clinical study in the rare kidney disease Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in the first half of 2021.
About the Dimerix share price
The Dimerix share price hit an all-time high of 78 cents in September, but is still a long way off that level despite today's rise. Sitting at 26 cents, the Dimerix share price is up 100% since the beginning of the year.
