IDRS Labs seeks DCGI emergency nod for plant based drug against long COVID

The phase I clinical trial of Sodium Copper Chlorophyllin 750 mg tablets earlier conducted by IDRS Labs in healthy volunteers, indicated that it is safe and well tolerated. Sodium Copper Chlorophyllin 750 mg improved total white blood cell count and lymphocyte count in healthy human subjects and significantly reduced the blood biomarkers of oxidative stress and necrosis.

According to Dr. Tapan Kumar Ghanty, Director, Bioscience Group, BARC Mumbai, the R&D work on Chlorophyllin was initiated at BARC more than 2 decades ago. Research on repurposing of chlorophyllin as an anti-viral drug against SARS-CoV-2 virus was started in March 2020. In silico studies carried out at BARC indicated that Sodium Copper Chlorophyllin inhibits the main protease (MPro) of SARS-CoV-2 virus at sub-micromolar concentration, and it may also reduce entry of SARS-CoV-2 in the target cells. Experiments using in vitro primary cells and in vivo Hamster model demonstrated that Sodium Copper Chlorophyllin significantly inhibited SARS-CoV-2 virus multiplication and decreased the lung viral load by 10-fold. Sodium Copper Chlorophyllin also reduced interleukin-6 expression in lymphocytes from SARS-CoV-2 infected hamsters.

Dr. Vikram Gota, Professor and Head of the department of Clinical Pharmacology at ACTREC-Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai, explained that Sodium Copper Chlorophyllin 750 mg tablets has a unique mechanism of action against SARS-CoV-2 virus. Sodium Copper Chlorophyllin has potent anti-viral activity against SARS-CoV-2 and it can also ameliorate the immune dysregulation by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines and promoting regenerative / anti-inflammatory cytokines. Hence, it may offer a unique opportunity for treatment of COVID19 disease progression and prevention / treatment of post-COVID sequalae. Post COVID sequalae or long COVID remains an unmet medical need with approximately 20% of the COVID infected patients showing at least one symptom within 3 months after showing RT-PCR negativity in upper respiratory tract. Long-COVID may be caused by persistent virus, uncleared viral RNA or viral antigens in the gut, immune dysregulation and circulating micro/nano-clots. There are no specific agents to treat or prevent Long-COVID.

Dr. Sudeep Gupta, Director, ACTREC - Navi Mumbai, who was instrumental in designing the phase II clinical trial of Sodium Copper Chlorophyllin, observed that chlorophyllin's ability to demonstrate anti-SARS-CoV-2 and immunomodulatory activity across model systems, combined with its excellent safety profile, makes it a possible candidate for prophylaxis against long-COVID.

Mr Shivkumar Madki stated that the completion of clinical development of Sodium Copper Chlorophyllin (co-developed with scientists from Department of Atomic Energy) was possible with the help of multiple agencies from Government of India including the ICMR's National Institute of Virology Pune, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute in Faridabad, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune and funding support from Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.