(Sharecast News) - Drug discovery outfit Synairgen will collaborate with the University of Southampton on an observational study aimed at exploring and better understanding acute respiratory viral infections and recovery.
Synairgen said the UNIVERSAL trial, being led by the university's clinical trials unit, will look to develop a prospective longitudinal clinical database of respiratory viral infections in hospitalised patients to inform the development of potential antivirals to treat severe viral lung infections caused by seasonal viruses and emerging viral threats.
The AIM-listed group said the trial, which aims to recruit 1,000 patients, will be initiated at ten sites across the UK. Synairgen will provide viral testing equipment and nursing staff at its Southampton clinical trial site, while funding for the trial will be provided by Janssen.
Chief executive Richard Marsden said: "The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the important link between research and clinical care and its impact on the timely development of much-needed antivirals for severe lung viral infections caused by seasonal viruses and emerging respiratory viral threats.
"Our collaboration on the UNIVERSAL trial will help provide a better understanding of what could predict clinical outcomes in patients hospitalised with respiratory symptoms due to infection with a range of respiratory viruses. The UNIVERSAL trial will help to further inform the development programme of SNG001, our investigational broad-spectrum antiviral."
As of 1140 BST, Synairgen shares were up 3.55% at 23.20p.
Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com