PharmaMar has reported that results from in vitro studies of Aplidin (plitidepsin) on the human coronavirus HCoV-229E, which has a multiplication and propagation mechanism very similar to COVID-19, have been positive with a potency of the nanomolar order. These studies were conducted at the National Biotechnology Centre of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).

These results confirm the hypothesis that the therapeutic target of Aplidin (plitidepsin), which is EF1A, is key to the multiplication and spread of the virus. With these data, PharmaMar will contact regulatory authorities to analyze the possibilities of studies on patients infected with COVID-19.

In vitro, or “in glass” studies are conducted using components of an organism that have been isolated from their usual biological surroundings, such as microorganisms, cells, or biological molecules.