Apabetalone’s Positive Impact on COVID-19 in Human Lung Cells Published in Biomedicines

Previously Announced Findings to Appear in the High-Impact Scientific Journal

CALGARY, Alberta, April 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Resverlogix Corp. ("Resverlogix") (TSX:RVX) announced today the publishing of an article titled: “Bromodomain and extraterminal protein inhibitor, apabetalone (RVX-208), reduces ACE2 expression and attenuates SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro”, in Biomedicines, a high-impact scientific journal. The previously announced findings, made in collaboration with Dr. Dalia ElGamal’s research group at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, have completed the peer-review process.

The publication can be viewed using the following LINK.

“We are proud to publish our findings that have come about as part of a second world class scientific collaboration on the beneficial impact of apabetalone in reducing COVID-19 infection of lung cells, the first collaboration demonstrated benefits to the heart,” said Donald McCaffrey, President and CEO of Resverlogix. “We believe apabetalone will prove to be a valuable tool in combatting the current pandemic and we are grateful for the contributions of researchers, such as Dr. ElGamal for answering our call for collaborations and in helping make that a reality.”

Program Update

Apabetalone is an investigational, phase 3 clinical candidate with safety data in more than 4,000 subjects. Resverlogix is advancing an open-label study to assess the safety and efficacy of apabetalone in the treatment of COVID-19, following a recent authorization from Health Canada.

As previously announced, an article published on March 23, 2020 revealed the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) protein E with BET proteins. Following this finding, Resverlogix put out a call for collaborations, resulting in multiple partnerships, and in parallel initiated in-house preclinical research to further characterize and investigate apabetalone’s efficacy in treating COVID-19 infection.

The results of the collaborative research efforts have uncovered that apabetalone has the potential to combat COVID-19 through a unique dual mechanism. First, apabetalone treatment prevents SARS-CoV-2 from infecting human cells, and second it reduces the inflammation and cytokine storm response which can result in organ damage and long-term negative impacts. As a result of its dual mechanism and clinical safety record, several peer-reviewed publications have shortlisted apabetalone as a clinical candidate for COVID-19.