Bolder BioTechnology Announces Positive Preclinical Data for Use of BBT-032 to Inhibit Growth of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus

Bolder BioTechnology, Inc. announced today that preclinical studies have shown that its proprietary long-acting interferon beta analog, BBT-032, strongly inhibits growth of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in culture at concentrations expected to be readily achievable in patients. SARS-CoV-2 is the coronavirus responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic. Based upon these promising results, Bolder BioTechnology intends to file an Investigational New Drug Application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to begin testing BBT-032 in humans. BBT-032 may prove useful for accelerating clearance of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in infected patients and for preventing infections in uninfected individuals. Interferon beta is a critical component of the host innate immune system that provides broad-based protection against viruses by stimulating a patient's cells to make proteins and other molecules that allow the cells to resist infection by viruses.  By stimulating host innate immunity, BBT-032 has the potential to be an effective treatment not only against SARS-CoV-2, but also against other coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, and future viral pandemic threats.