CytoDyn to Offer No-Cost Exploratory Laboratory Testing for Childhood Inflammatory Disease Associated with COVID-19

VANCOUVER, Washington, May 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CytoDyn Inc. (OTC.QB: CYDY), (“CytoDyn” or the “Company”), a late-stage biotechnology company developing leronlimab (PRO 140), a CCR5 antagonist with the potential for multiple therapeutic indications, today announced it is offering comprehensive cytokine profiling (including RANTES levels) through its diagnostic partner company, IncellDx, to help physicians understand the pathogenesis of Childhood Inflammatory Disease Related to COVID-19. These laboratory tests are exploratory in nature and not intended for clinical decision making.

Recent reports in parts of the U.S. and Europe suggest a rare and potentially fatal inflammatory disease linked to the novel coronavirus is afflicting a small number of children. The condition resembles a rare childhood illness called Kawasaki disease, which has similar signs and symptoms and can lead to enlargement of blood vessels that in severe forms may cause heart damage.

New York State Department of Health is investigating 110 reported cases and 3 deaths in children - predominantly school-aged - experiencing symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease and toxic shock-like syndrome, possibly due to COVID-19.

Bruce Patterson, M.D., Chief Executive Officer and founder of IncellDx, a diagnostic partner and an advisor to CytoDyn commented, “Cytokines are proteins that modulate the inflammatory response. Kawasaki disease has been previously shown to be associated with elevated levels of RANTES, a protein we have shown to be significantly elevated in mild-moderate COVID-19 and over 100 times normal in critical COVID-19 patients.”

Nader Pourhassan, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of CytoDyn added, “We hope our comprehensive cytokine testing will help physicians gain a better understanding of the disease process and, in turn, explore the prospect for leronlimab to potentially provide a therapeutic benefit to children suffering from inflammatory illness related to COVID-19.”

About Coronavirus Disease 2019
CytoDyn is currently enrolling patients in two clinical trials for COVID-19, a Phase 2 randomized clinical trial for mild-to-moderate COVID-19 population in the U.S. and a Phase 2b/3 randomized clinical trial for severe and critically ill COVID-19 population in several hospitals throughout the country.

SARS-CoV-2 was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China. The origin of SARS-CoV-2 causing the COVID-19 disease is uncertain, and the virus is highly contagious. COVID-19 typically transmits person to person through respiratory droplets, commonly resulting from coughing, sneezing, and close personal contact. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing illness in people and others that circulate among animals. For confirmed COVID-19 infections, symptoms have included fever, cough, and shortness of breath. The symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. Clinical manifestations in patients have ranged from non-existent to severe and fatal. At this time, there are minimal treatment options for COVID-19.