Argent BioPharma (ASX:RGT) has announced the results of an independent in vivo study evaluating the efficacy of ArtemiC, the USA OTC Unlicensed Drug Brand name of CimetrA, its lead immunomodulatory therapeutic, in a severe viral inflammatory model targeting Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).
The company said the in vivo study on ArtemiC was conducted independently and fully financed by AMC Pharma USA in collaboration with the Botanical Medicine Research and Education Consortium (BMREC) at the University of South Florida (USF).
Completed in April 2025 and published on 20 August, the study assessed the therapeutic impact of ArtemiC in K18-hACE2 transgenic mice (within a severe viral inflammatory model.
Argent said the strength of the results provides a robust scientific foundation for AMC Pharma’s commercial strategy, supporting anticipated future orders in the US and other international territories under its existing distribution agreements.
Treated animals demonstrated a survival rate of up to 85 per cent, compared with zero in the untreated control group. The therapy not only achieved a significant reduction of viral load in both lung and brain tissue, but also markedly suppressed cytokine-driven inflammatory injury, a key driver of morbidity. Argent said systemic treatment with ArtemiC enhanced overall antiviral efficacy and extended life expectancy, yielding an additional 20 to 40 per cent survival advantage in treated cohorts. ArtemiC also mitigated the cytokine storm triggered in K18-hACE2 mice subjected to a severe viral inflammatory challenge, thereby reinforcing its proposed mechanism of action as a targeted anti-inflammatory intervention in acute, hyperinflammatory disease conditions.
Roby Zomer, the Managing Director and CEO of Argent BioPharma, said, “These independent in vivo data, generated in the United States by respected academic and clinical teams, validate ArtemiC's immunological mode of action. The efficacy in controlling viral-driven inflammation without immune suppression reinforces our clinical and regulatory strategy for treating severe infections, ARDS.
“We are also pleased to confirm that our American program remains active. We have stayed committed to delivering these trial results because both our team and our partners at AMC believe we have developed something that should be made available to Americans and people worldwide. We are advancing registration in additional territories and look forward to sharing more soon. I would also like to thank our US representative, Mr Daniel Erdman, whose leadership has been instrumental in coordinating the program, securing these trial results, and driving the continued development of ArtemiC in the United States."