Hoth Announces Positive Preclinical Results for Novel COVID-19 Therapeutic

Hoth Therapeutics announced new in vitro data demonstrating SARS-CoV-2 antiviral activity for its lead peptide candidate for HT-002, a novel therapeutic targeted for the treatment of COVID-19. The data was generated in collaboration with Dr. Michael Peters, Hoth Scientific Advisory Board Member and Professor of Chemical and Life Science Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The in vitro study was conducted using a standard cytoprotection assay with live SARS-CoV-2 virus (strain USA-WA1/2020 World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, WRCEVA) and tested in Vero E6 cells using serial dilutions of the novel peptide. The lead HT-002 peptide candidate was shown to inhibit 50% of the cytopathic effect (CPE) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus at 61.7 µM (the EC50). Further, no cytotoxicity was demonstrated at concentrations of up to 200 µM of the peptide, supporting that this lead peptide has the potential to be a promising novel therapeutic for the treatment of COVID-19.

"We are encouraged by these extremely positive in vitro results supporting that HT-002's novel peptide could provide substantial antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2," said Dr. Stefanie Johns, Chief Scientific Officer of Hoth Therapeutics. "This data supports that HT-002 has the potential to be developed as a novel therapeutic to both prevent and treat COVID-19."

Hoth plans to pursue further preclinical animal studies to support the therapeutic potential of the lead peptide and investigate route of administration.