Mesoblast’s Covid-19 therapy improves survival rate

 Mesoblast has reported that its therapy, remestemcel-L, enhanced survival outcomes in ventilator-dependent Covid-19 patients suffering from moderate/severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in a trial.

The randomised, controlled trial enrolled a total of 222 subjects in the US.

Of these subjects, 217 were categorised in a 1:1 ratio to receive either two intravenous doses of remestemcel-L administered three to five days apart plus standard of care alone (SOC) or SOC alone.

Data from a pre-specified analysis of 123 subjects aged under 65 years showed that remestemcel-L decreased mortality by 48% at 90 days versus controls. This is comparable to the 46% decrease in mortality at 60 days, suggesting a durable therapeutic effect, the company noted.

In an exploratory analysis involving subjects on dexamethasone, the drug candidate led to a 77% reduction in mortality when compared to controls aged below 65 years on dexamethasone.

Furthermore, significant improvements with remestemcel-L were observed on secondary endpoints of ventilator-free days, respiratory function determined by ARDS severity and overall clinical improvement on a seven-point ordinal scale.

On day seven, the therapy enhanced respiratory function in subjects above 65 years but 97 treated participants did not experience a decrease in mortality.

Furthermore, remestemcel-L, along with SOC of dexamethasone, boosted respiratory function and improved clinical outcomes to an increased extent in subjects under 65 at days seven, 14, 21, and 30.

Earlier, Mesoblast reported that the trial failed to meet its goal of a 43% decline in overall mortality.

The therapy reduced mortality in 60 days in the pre-specified subgroup analysis of 123 subjects under 65, but not for those aged above 65.

Last year, Mesoblast signed a licence and partnership agreement with Novartis to develop, produce and market remestemcel-L focusing on treating ARDS, including that related to Covid-19.

https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/news/mesoblast-covid-therapy-trial/