Nordic Life Science 1
Richard Godfrey, CEO, BerGenBio PH A SE I I Dosin
g was commenced in BerGenBio’s Phase II clinical trial in hospitalized COVID-19 patients but the UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) has now decided to cease the grant funding for the study. AS the first candidate to be tested as part of the accelerating COVID-19 Research & Development platform (ACCORD) study, launched by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The study was open at a further seven sites across the UK. The Phase II study was to recruit 120 subjects in total, assessing the safety and efficacy of bemcentinib as an add-on therapy to standard of care (SoC) in 60 hospitalized COVID-19 patients with a further 60 control group patients receiving SoC. Due to the decision from the UKRI, the University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust, who is the study sponsor, has notified all sites in the ACCORD study to cease recruitment of new patients into the trial. Patients already recruited, including those dosed with bemcentinib, will continue on treatment as per the protocol. BerGenBio also confirms it is in late stage set-up phase to sponsor and conduct a similar study to ACCORD in a country of high COVID-19 incidence and expects to be in a position to update the market in the near future. ”In recent weeks the incidence of COVID-19 in the UK has drastically reduced and as a result the ACCORD programme hasn’t moved forward as swiftly as we expected. We are faced with the reality of the pandemic and need to adapt quickly in order to move forward in the interests of patients,” says Richard Godfrey, Chief Executive Officer of BerGenBio. NLS NORDICLIFESCIENCE.ORG 23 PHOTO NILS OLAV MEVATNE PHOTO NILS OLAV MEVATNE