MGC Pharma submits patent for COVID-19 inflammation drug CimetrA, ahead of Phase III trials

European-based biopharma company MGC Pharmaceuticals (ASX:MXC) has just announced major progress in its anti-inflammation drug, CimetrA, having recently submitted the patent application to the European IP Office.

The patent application was accepted by the Slovenian Intellectual Property Office on May 5, which was the priority date for the patent.

This will now give the company priority to file patents for CimetrA in other jurisdictions, which may include other IP agencies such as the EU, and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

“The submission of this patent application is an important next step in bringing CimetrA to market in multiple jurisdictions, and ultimately treating people and patients on a global scale whilst Phase III trials for the IMP continue,” commented Roby Zomer, co-founder and managing director of MGC Pharma.

The company expects the patent to be approved and issued within the next 12 months.

About the patent

CimetrA was designed for multiple therapeutic applications, including acute and chronic inflammations arising from COVID-19, as well as variants of influenza and autoimmune diseases.

In previous studies, the drug has indicated to promote an immune response to bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections, highlighting its versatility as a medicine.

The patent submitted will look into and provide a nano-micellular pharmaceutical synergetic composition consisting of curcumin, boswellia, artemisinin, and optionally cannabinoids or nitroxides.

This particular composition can be manufactured in liquids or in solid carriers, and can be used in multiple therapeutic applications, utilising the self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS).

SNEDDS is a unique platform to deliver active ingredients more effectively in higher concentrations to the cells, improving the bioavailability and synergy of natural active ingredients.

The patent will also set out the specific antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immune-modulating, anti-viral, and anti-cancer properties of CimetrA.

CimetrA already has a proven efficacy in relation to the regulation of the human body’s circadian rhythm and homeostasis, which promotes an immune response to bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections.

This wide range of uses highlights the drug’s versatility as an Investigational Medicinal Product (IMP), a designation it received from the Rambam Health Care Campus and Nazareth Hospital in Israel, ahead of Phase III trials.

On to Phase III trial

Preclinical and clinical results for CimterA to date points to the drug as being an effective treatment for addressing anti-inflammation, and cytokine over-production (known as cytokine storm) in all tested COVID-19 patients.

Many plant molecules which make up the pharmaceutical ingredients (API) are not water soluble, and cannot be readily absorbed by the body.

But once these are encapsulated within the oil-free type IV nano-micellar SNEDDS, the bioavailability of the molecules is increased, and the API are emulsified and absorbed more efficiently, resulting in more effective treatment.

MGC Pharma believes the submission of this patent therefore has significant implications for the pharmaceutical industry, and will ultimately help to increase general drug efficiency.

With the patent submitted, the company now expects to commence its Phase III clinical trials shortly.

The development announced today follows the positive result from the Phase II clinical trials of ArtemiCTM, the company’s other drug designed to treat COVID-19 patients.

Those results have indicated ArtemiC to be effective for addressing cytokine in all tested COVID patients.