The primary endpoint was to increase platelet counts by 20,000 at 48 hours after dosing. Platelets perform a critical role in the body’s blood clotting system and low levels can lead to severe bleeding and death.
“These positive results suggest that WinRho SDF may be an effective treatment for infectious diseases that cause dangerously low platelet counts,” said Dr John Langstaff, Cangene’s president and CEO. “Using these results as a surrogate, we will assess the potential for using WinRho SDF to treat other common and economically significant diseases, such as influenza, malaria and HIV, which also cause reduced platelet levels.”
Cangene has filed an international patent application for this use of WinRho SDF to treat dengue hemorrhagic fever. The company may also investigate the drug’s use to treat other infectious diseases that cause destruction of blood platelets.
WinRho SDF is already approved for use in treating immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) which is an autoimmune condition that causes decreased levels of platelets.