India Authorizes Artemisinin Intervention Study Against COVID-19

India's Mateon Therapeutics announced on September 14, 2020, that its global study based on its ARTI-19 protocol for Artemisinin Intervention against COVID-19 has been cleared for patient enrollment in India. This trial will compare the efficacy of oral doses with standard-of-care versus SOC alone. 

Artemisinin is reported to target multiple viral threats including COVID-19 by suppressing both viral replication and clinical symptoms that arise from viral infection. Viral replication cannot occur without TGF-β.

Artemisinin, purified from a plant Artemisia annua, is able to inhibit TGF-β activity and is able to neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in vitro at an EC50 of 0.45 ug/ml, and a Safety Index of 140, which is better than remdesivir and chloroquine, stated the company.