Calamos Supports Greece
GreekReporter.comUSAGreek American-Run Company Starts New Coronavirus Drug Trial

Greek American-Run Company Starts New Coronavirus Drug Trial

Headed by a Greek-American, the company Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc., has announced the start of a clinical study in patients who have been hospitalized with COVID-19.

A physician, as well as the president and CEO of the firm, Mihael Polymeropoulos, has received the FDA’s permission to proceed with the study, named “Odyssey,” for the treatment and prevention of the pneumonia associated with COVID-19.

On Wednesday, Vanda announced the enrollment of the first patient, who is currently at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

Polymeropoulos, who holds a degree in Medicine from the University of Patras, his birthplace in western Greece, founded Vanda in 2003.

Vanda CEO Dr. Mihael Polymeropoulos

“With the strong leadership and health expertise of Northwell Health, we expect to be able to accelerate enrollment in this study and provide results in the coming months,” said Polymeropoulos.

“As the mortality rate from COVID-19 continues to rise in New York from Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), it is critical for clinical research to be fully embraced by the public, scientific community, health professionals and the government.

“We could not think of a better partner to leverage all of these constituencies than Northwell Health as we strive to complete this study as soon as possible and bring potential relief to patients suffering from COVID-19,” Polymeropoulos stated.

Northwell Health is New York state’s largest health care provider and private employer, with 23 hospitals, about 750 outpatient facilities and more than 13,600 affiliated physicians.

The physician’s son, Christos Polymeropoulos, MD, who is the medical director at Vanda, explained that Odyssey will investigate the efficacy and safety of Tradipitant, a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist, given orally twice daily to treat inflammatory lung injury associated with severe COVID-19 infection.

Vanda medical director Dr. Christos Polymeropoulos

The study will randomize approximately 300 patients aged 18-90 with severe COVID-19 infection who are suffering from pneumonia. The study will begin at New York area hospitals and will enroll hospitalized patients with COVID-19 ARDS.

Polymeropoulos notes that a recent study in Wuhan, China found that 41.8 percent of 201 COVID-19 hospitalized patients developed ARDS, and among these patients, 52.4 percent died, underscoring the high rate of mortality in this population.

“Given this critical and urgent unmet medical need, Vanda has immediately initiated activities aimed at a number of therapeutic approaches against COVID-19,” said Polymeropoulos.

“Our approach will investigate therapeutics aimed at host processes that facilitate viral entry and replication, as well as therapeutics targeting the neuroinflammatory process that results in ARDS.”

Tradipitant is currently in clinical trials for the treatment of a variety of indications, including atopic dermatitis, gastroparesis and motion sickness. In the ODYSSEY study, tradipitant will be administered in addition to the standard of care, at dosing levels previously tested and generally shown to be well tolerated.

See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!



Related Posts