Ontario, Canada (CU)_ Tetra Bio-Pharma Inc., a pioneer in cannabis-derived drug discovery and development, has entered into an agreement with Cellvera Global Holdings LLC to co-develop a new combination product using ARDS-003 in combination with Qifenda 400MG (Favipiravir), which is a commercial-stage broad-spectrum antiviral medication.
According to Tetra Bio-Pharma, a manufacturer of drugs derived from cannabis, ARDS-003 is a unique medicinal product generated from cannabis that is used for treating acute systemic inflammation and avoids sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and organ damage. Favipiravir is an antiviral medication that is effective against 12 virus families, including coronavirus, Ebola, Zika, dengue, and rabies, among others.
Guy Chamberland, CEO and CRO of Tetra Bio-Pharma, expressed optimism over the collaboration. He said, “This partnership with a pharmaceutical company with global reach is a sign of the potential for the ARDS-003 drug asset. We look forward to working jointly with Cellvera to bring this combination drug product forward to improve treatment options for patients worldwide”.
Cellvera has the rights to Favipiravir, which has a lengthy track record of safety and efficacy and was originally designed for the treatment of pandemic influenza. The medicine targets the protein required for coronavirus replication and subsequently prevents the virus from replicating itself. Based on the findings from a drug discovery platform, the firms think that a combination product of Favipiravir and ARDS-003 may reduce or avoid some COVID-19 effects, such as severe lung inflammation.
Mary O’Brien, CEO of Cellvera, expressed hopes for the partnership. She said, “The ongoing complexities of COVID-19 require multiple treatment options. By joining forces with Tetra, we hope to offer this additional treatment option to patients. This collaboration with Tetra supports our partnership strategy and the development of further combination therapies involving Qifenda (Favipiravir). We share a passion with Tetra to deliver innovative medicines to address this pandemic. We look forward to working with Guy and his team to investigate the potential of ARDS-003 and Qfienda (Favipiravir). By joining the Prepaire partner platform, we connect with like-minded experts from across industry, academia, and the government sector, we are better equipped to lead the way towards transforming drug discovery and development through the application of machine learning”.
