On Mar. 3, 2021, Resverlogix and QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute announced the publishing of an article providing evidence of apabetalone’s potential benefit on SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). The article was published on the pre-print server, bioRxiv, at the request of the reviewing scientific journal.

Apabetalone, a FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) drug is an investigational, phase 3 clinical candidate with safety data in more than 4,000 subjects. Resverlogix previously announced plans for an open-label study to assess the safety and efficacy of apabetalone in the treatment of COVID-19.

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. In October and December of 2020, Resverlogix announced additional publications that shortlisted apabetalone for its potential COVID-19 effectiveness, including in reducing cytokine-storm

QIMR Berghofer is a world-leading, translational medical research institute based in Brisbane, Australia. Its research focuses on cancer, infectious diseases, mental health and a range of chronic disorders. Working in close collaboration with clinicians, other research institutes and the biotech sector, QIMR Berghofer’s aim is to improve human health by developing new and better diagnostics, treatments and prevention strategies.

Resverlogix is developing apabetalone (RVX-208), a first-in-class, small molecule that is a selective BET (bromodomain and extra-terminal) inhibitor. Apabetalone is the first therapy of its kind to have been granted US FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation – for a major cardiovascular indication – to help facilitate a time-efficient drug development program including planned clinical trials and plans for expediting the manufacturing development strategy.