A study of an AstraZeneca drug being trialed in hospitalized COVID-19 patients has failed to meet its primary endpoints.
The company reported this week that the drug, Farxiga, did not successfully reduce the risk of death or halt disease progression in the 30-day study that included 1,250 patients. Farxiga also failed to improve recovery in patients with COVID-19.
Farxiga, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, has traditionally been used by type 2 diabetes patients to improve glycaemic control, but it has also been approved to reduce the risk of hospitalization from heart failure in type 2 diabetes patients. Given its cardio and renal protective effects, AstraZeneca had hoped it would help hospitalized COVID-19 patients because many have been shown to have cardio or renal comorbidities.
AstraZeneca noted in its release that although the recent study of Farxiga did not achieve the desired outcome, it will at least help fill the “knowledge gap” about the use of SGLT2 inhibitors on COVID-19 patients.
AstraZeneca is also testing an antibody cocktail aimed at treating COVID-19.
