ANA Therapeutics and Quotient Sciences announce partnership to manufacture niclosamide drug candidate as a potential treatment for COVID-19
Wednesday, August 12, 2020
ANA Therapeutics , a Silicon Valley-based biotech start-up, and Quotient Sciences , a leading provider of innovative solutions for drug development and manufacture, today announced a Partnership announced to support the manufacture of ANA Therapeutics' drug candidate ANA001 (niclosamide capsules), which is being developed by both companies as a potential treatment option for COVID-19. As part of the collaboration, Quotient will scale the capsule formulation, identify and optimize the manufacturing process and ensure the continuity of the drug through clinical studies.
Laboratory results have shown that niclosamide prevents replication of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19). It is therefore a very promising candidate to contain the spread of COVID-19. Niclosamide has already been approved by the FDA as a treatment for tapeworms. While not currently marketed in the United States, it is on the World Health Organization's Essential Medicines List and has been used for decades to safely treat millions of people around the world.
“We chose Quotient Sciences as our design and manufacturing partner, and our plan is simple,” said Andrew Bartynski , COO, ANA Therapeutics. “Niclosamide has the potential to become an effective antiviral agent to fight COVID-19. Our main goal is to complete a clinical study that will allow us to determine its effectiveness in treating patients with COVID-19. The speed and flexibility of Quotient will play a crucial role in reaching this significant milestone. "
Mark Egerton, Ph.D. , CEO of Quotient Sciences, said, “We are proud to partner with ANA Therapeutics in finding a treatment that will be effective against the coronavirus pandemic. Thanks to our experience and flexible approaches to production, ANA Therapeutics will be able to start clinical trials in a shorter time frame. "
Under the agreement, ANA Therapeutics will have access to Quotient's formulation and manufacturing expertise to develop and rapidly deliver drugs for key clinical trials in Q3 2020. The program will be conducted at Quotient's facility in Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania.
