RedHill Biopharma Secures Allowance of Key Chinese Patent Application for Proprietary COVID-19 Treatment, RHB-107

Core Insights - RedHill Biopharma has received a critical composition-of-matter patent for RHB-107, enhancing its market exclusivity in the COVID-19 therapeutic space, which is projected to exceed $3 billion by 2025 [1][2] - RHB-107 has shown promising results in a U.S. Phase 2 study, achieving a 100% reduction in hospitalization rates among treated patients compared to a 15% hospitalization rate in the placebo group [2] - The drug is designed to be a broad-acting antiviral that targets human serine proteases, potentially effective against various SARS-CoV-2 variants [3][4] Company Overview - RedHill Biopharma focuses on the development and commercialization of drugs for gastrointestinal diseases, infectious diseases, and oncology, with a notable product being Talicia for H. pylori infection [5] - The company has a diverse pipeline, including RHB-204 for Crohn's disease and opaganib for cancer and COVID-19, indicating a strong commitment to addressing multiple health challenges [5] Clinical Data - In the Phase 2 study, RHB-107 demonstrated a 100% reduction in hospitalization (0/41) versus 15% (3/20) in the placebo group, with a nominal p-value of 0.0317, and an 88% reduction in new severe COVID-19 symptoms [2] - The study also indicated faster recovery times, with a median recovery of 3 days for RHB-107 compared to 8 days for placebo [2] Patent and Market Position - The newly allowed patent in China strengthens RedHill's intellectual property portfolio and expands its presence in Asia, a significant pharmaceutical market [2] - RHB-107's unique mechanism of action, targeting host cells rather than the virus directly, positions it as a potential alternative to existing treatments like Pfizer's Paxlovid [2][3]