Argent BioPharma’s CimetrA® Demonstrates Safety And Anti-Inflammatory Potential In Phase IIb COVID-19 Trial

Argent BioPharma has today announced encouraging results from its Phase IIb clinical trial evaluating its CimetrA® in COVID-19 patients. The study was double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, and confirmed CimetrA®'s strong safety profile, with no drug-related adverse events reported. Patients receiving CimetrA® exhibited a faster recovery and more remarkable symptom improvement than the placebo group. The treatment also demonstrated promising modulation of IL-6, a key inflammatory marker, highlighting its potential anti-inflammatory effects.

Roby Zomer, CEO & Managing Director of Argent BioPharma, said in a statement, "We are highly encouraged by CimetrA®'s strong safety profile and the observed trend of faster clinical improvement. The data supports its potential as a safe and effective treatment for inflammatory conditions beyond COVID-19. These findings pave the way for further clinical development as we explore broader applications for CimetrA® in immune and inflammatory disorders."

The research extends previous work proving CimetrA®'s dual activity by blocking Interleukin-32 (IL-32) pro-inflammatory cytokine production while simultaneously promoting the antioxidant effect of Heme-Oxygenase-1 (HO-1) enzyme. CimetrA® received further validation during preclinical trials with large animals because it demonstrated no toxicological effects during a 14-day study in a controlled swine study. CimetrA® appears to offer potential as an acceptable supplemental therapy for treating COVID-19 and additional inflammatory conditions based on the results already achieved. Still, new large-scale tests are needed to verify its full effectiveness.

Dr Nadya Lisovoder, CEO of Galilee Clinical Bio Research (CBR), said, “The results of this Phase IIb study reaffirm CimetrA®'s strong safety profile and its potential to regulate inflammatory responses. By modulating key cytokines like IL-6 and IL-32, CimetrA® demonstrates a unique mechanism of action in controlling immune overactivation. These findings and past research suggest broader applications beyond COVID-19, including autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. 

He also commented, “Our collaboration with Rambam Health Care Campus and the dedicated team at Galilee Clinical Bio Research (Galil CRO), who expertly managed and coordinated this study, has been instrumental in ensuring the highest clinical standards. Working alongside such esteemed partners has been a privilege, and we look forward to further development and the opportunity to bring CimetrA® to patients in need of safer, more effective treatments.”

The clinical test examined CimetrA® formulations containing both Curcuma longa and Boswellia serrata extracts during the 48-hour treatment span. Patients receiving the experimental treatment experienced meaningful improvements according to the WHO Ordinal Scale for COVID-19 while showing decreased levels of cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ. Participants experienced continuous improvement in their quality-of-life scores during the study period, which showed potential clinical advantages in past symptom control measures.