Encouraging results reported on Ruconest against Covid-19

Leiden-based biotechnology company Pharming reports encouraging results with his drug Ruconest against Covid-19, which is caused by the new coronavirus. Results from tests in five patients prompted a more extensive study into the effect of the drug against the lung virus.

Pharming initially developed Ruconest as a medicine against hereditary forms of angioedema, or acute swelling in the body. The drug was tested on five patients with Covid-19 in Basel, Switzerland, through a special research program. In four out of five patients, the fever decreased and there were fewer signs of inflammation. They healed quickly. A patient had to go to intensive care for extra ventilation.

Now a larger investigation follows into the effect of Ruconest against the consequences of the new coronavirus. It is being tested in 150 patients with Covid-19 under the supervision of researchers from the University Hospital of Basel.