RepliCel Life Sciences Inc (TSXV:RP)
RepliCel is a regenerative medicine company developing autologous cell therapies that address diseases caused by a deficit of healthy cells required for normal healing and function.
Vir Biotechnology (NASDAQ:VIR) will collaborate with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advance the characterization and development of human monoclonal antibodies against coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the cause of the current outbreak.
Under the terms of the agreement, the company and NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) will work together to identify and optimize combinations of antibodies against coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, SARS and MERS. Animal studies will be conducted to assess immune responses.
Vir has identified a “number” of monoclonals that bind to SARS-CoV-2 that were isolated from people who survived SARS infection.
Shares up 14% premarket on light volume.
Thinly traded micro cap RedHill Biopharma (NASDAQ:RDHL) is the latest biopharma developer to try to capture a slice of the market’s enthusiasm for anything coronavirus-related.
The company says it is “actively pursuing” an exploratory program evaluating the combination of opaganib and RHB-107, individually and together with hydroxychloroquine and other compounds, for the potential treatment of COVID-19.
Opaginib is a sphingosine kinase-2 (SK2) inhibitor with anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects.
RHB-107 (upamostat) inhibits the S1 family of trypsin-like serine proteases, with potential efficacy in a range of cancers, GI disorders and inflammatory conditions.
Shares up 5% premarket on average volume.
Thinly traded micro cap Kamada Ltd. (KMDA +3.8%) is up on almost a 6x surge in volume, albeit on turnover of only 344K shares, in reaction to its announced plan to develop an immunoglobulin against the coronavirus causing the current outbreak.
The company will produce the IgG antibody product from plasma derived from donors who have recovered from coronavirus infection, including SARS-CoV-2.
It cautions that the product will be highly dependent on the availability of hyperimmune plasma and the regulatory pathway.
Thinly traded nano cap Parallax Health Sciences (OTCPK:PRLX +13%) is, yet another, would-be player in the mad dash for a rapid screening test for COVID-19.
Today, it announced that subsidiary Parallax Diagnostics intends to in-license and develop monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies for such a test based on its VT-1000 immunoassay platform. Available resources appear to be an issue since it is seeking partners to accelerate the development.
Sabra Health Care REIT (SBRA -12.2%) slumps on over 50% higher volume in apparent response to a COVID-19 outbreak at one of its facilities, reported by Mizuho.
