Synairgen plc announces positive data from additional assessments of lung sputum samples from its Phase 2 clinical trial of inhaled SNG001 in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients with a confirmed respiratory viral infection (SG015, NCT03570359). In early 2020, due to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, Synairgen's SG015 trial in COPD patients was paused with 109 out of the targeted 120 patients recruited. An interim analysis of the data was reported in September 2020 which demonstrated that SNG001 boosted lung antiviral responses as assessed using sputum biomarkers, and led to a significant difference in the lung function of exacerbating patients.

Sputum samples were collected where possible at study visits conducted during and after the 14-day dosing period. Assessment of viral clearance focused on the most frequently detected virus, human rhinovirus (HRV), which accounted for approximately 50% of infections. The results suggest that HRV was cleared more rapidly in patients treated with SNG001 than placebo with a statistically significant difference in the proportion of patients with detectable HRV in sputum at Day 7. In COPD exacerbations, sputum purulence and elevated levels of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) are associated with the presence of bacteria in the lower respiratory tract.

In the second week of treatment, a greater proportion of patients in the placebo group had purulent sputum or elevated serum CRP.