Biophytis Presented COVA Study Results on Severe Covid-19 at WCID Paris

15 July 2024

July 1, 2024 / Biophytis SA (Euronext Growth Paris: ALBPS), a clinical-stage biotechnology firm specializing in therapeutics for age-related illnesses, shared significant updates on its phase 2/3 COVA study targeting severe Covid-19 cases during the 6th World Congress on Infectious Diseases held from June 24 to 26, 2024, in Paris, France.

Professor Valerie Pourcher, MD, PhD, Chair of the Infectious Diseases department at Pitié Salpetriere, presented the findings of the COVA phase 2/3 clinical study. This presentation came at a crucial time as Covid-19 cases were on the rise again. Dr. Claudia Ferreira, MD, PhD, the Medical Director at Biophytis, commenced the conference with a keynote on the risks of infectious diseases and potential pandemic developments linked to the upcoming Paris Olympic Games. She highlighted a significant increase of 52% in emergency room visits due to SARS-CoV-2 during the week of June 10-17, 2024, in France. Additionally, Dr. Ferreira chaired several roundtable discussions.

Valerie Pourcher elaborated on the results of the randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2/3 COVA study, which examined the efficacy of oral BIO101 (20-hydroxyecdysone) in adult patients hospitalized with severe Covid-19. The study's findings were promising, revealing not only a strong safety profile for BIO101 but also a statistically significant reduction in the relative risk of early respiratory failure or death by 43.8%. Furthermore, it demonstrated a 44.6% decrease in the mortality rate over 90 days.

Stanislas Veillet, CEO of Biophytis, emphasized the ongoing threat of the Covid-19 pandemic. He cited World Health Organization data, which reported 134,797 new Covid-19 cases and 1,691 deaths globally within the 28 days leading up to June 9, 2024. Veillet pointed out that these figures are likely underestimated due to under-reporting. The COVA program's positive results position BIO101 as a leading candidate for treating severe Covid-19, especially in elderly patients with co-morbidities, regardless of the SARS-CoV-2 strain.

The poster presented at the Congress provided detailed information on the study's objectives, design, and outcomes.

Biophytis SA is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing drug candidates for age-related diseases. Their lead drug candidate, BIO101 (20-hydroxyecdysone), is being developed for various conditions, including muscular diseases like sarcopenia and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, respiratory diseases such as Covid-19, and metabolic diseases like obesity. The company operates out of Paris, France, and Cambridge, Massachusetts, and its ordinary shares are listed on Euronext Growth under the ticker ALBPS.

The company's promising developments in the field of age-related disease therapeutics, especially in the context of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, mark a significant contribution to global health efforts. The positive outcomes from the COVA study underscore the potential of BIO101 to become a critical therapeutic option for severe Covid-19 cases, offering hope for better management of the disease in vulnerable populations.

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