AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 Taskforce Starts With Calquence Trial

BTK Inhibitor Has Shown Results In Advanced COVID-19 Lung Disease

AstraZeneca will launch a global clinical trial for its blood cancer drug Calquence because it showed early respiratory promise in later-stage COVID-19 patients, those in intensive care units and on ventilators.

Patient_Hospital_Ventilator
Watch This Space: AstraZeneca has established a COVID-19 taskforce • Source: Shutterstock

Encouraged by early clinical evidence,AstraZeneca PLC now plans a randomized, global clinical trial to test whether the BTK inhibitor Calquence (acalabrutinib) can be used to treat the exaggerated and deadly immune response, or so-called cytokine storm, linked with COVID-19 infection in severely ill patients.

Called CALAVI, the study has been designed in record time and is based on early clinical data with Calquence showing...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Scrip for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required

More from Clinical Trials

Blenrep Questions Won’t Go Away But GSK Sees Chance To Lead In COPD

 

GSK is sticking to its guns on its forecasts for Blenrep and the firm’s total sales in 2031 despite concerns about the antibody-drug conjugate’s approvability in the US.

Lilly’s Jaypirca Threatens Imbruvica’s CLL Position After Phase III Results

 

The BRUIN CLL-314 trial was designed to show noninferiority, but the p-value indicated a favorable result for Jaypirca in both the pre-treated and intent-to-treat populations.

Atai Gives Up On Recognify’s Schizophrenia Drug After Phase IIb Miss

 
• By 

Set to merge with Beckley Psytech, Atai will focus on psychedelic candidates for treatment-resistant depression while Recognify will analyze Phase IIb data for possible next steps.

Celcuity Preps For Potentially Huge Market After Phase III Gedatolisib Win

 

The biotech announced positive results in the PIK3CA wild-type population in second-line HR+/HER2- breast cancer for its PAM inhibitor.

More from R&D

Celcuity Preps For Potentially Huge Market After Phase III Gedatolisib Win

 

The biotech announced positive results in the PIK3CA wild-type population in second-line HR+/HER2- breast cancer for its PAM inhibitor.

Roche Unveils Alzheimer’s Phase III Plan And Preclinical Study

 

The trontinemab Phase III study is due to get underway this year, with Roche confident its brainshuttle technology will help it surpass approved rivals.

Bayer’s Elinzanetant Is Latest Drug Hit By FDA Review Delays

 
• By 

Comes Days After PDUFA Pushback For GSK's Blenrep.