Humanigen says lenzilumab drug delivers better recovery time for coronavirus-associated pneumonia in cross-trial analysis

Humanigen Inc (OTCQB:HGEN) presented findings Tuesday showing that a cohort of 12 patients with coronavirus-associated pneumonia treated with its drug lenzilumab had a mean recovery time nearly twice as fast as a group treated with remdesivir in a separate trial. In a recent Mayo Clinic study, a group treated with lenzilumab showed a median recovery time of five days and a 100% survival rate at the data cut-off point. By comparison, a group of patients with similar baseline characteristics treated with Gilead Sciences’ remdesivir had a median recovery time of 10 to 11 days.  Redesivir was previously granted Emergency Use Authorization by the US Food and Drug Administration.  READ: Humanigen sees 12 patients with coronavirus pneumonia recover after lenzilumab treatment in Mayo Clinic study The data breaks down as follows: The company said it plans to hold a conference call to discuss the analysis at 4.30pm ET on Tuesday. Investors can dial (833) 714-0938 in the US or +1 (778) 560-2680 internationally. The conference ID number is 4442099. Lenzilumab is designed to treat the cytokine storm, an overactive immune system response that can cause fever and inflammation and potentially lead to organ failure. The Mayo Clinic study of lenzilumab was published in an article titled, “First Clinical Use of Lenzilumab to Neutralize GM-CSF in Patients with Severe and Critical COVID-19 Pneumonia.”  All 12 patients were hospitalized at the Mayo Clinic and had severe or critical pneumonia as a result of the coronavirus. The patients required oxygen supplementation and had elevation in at least one inflammatory biomarker prior to receiving lenzilumab. The median age was 65 years old. Contact Andrew Kessel at andrew.kessel@proactiveinvestors.com Follow him on Twitter @andrew_kessel