Pardes expects to start larger trial of COVID-19 antiviral pill by mid-year

Pardes Biosciences Inc (PRDS.O) said on Monday it expects to start a mid-to-late-stage trial of its experimental COVID-19 antiviral pill by mid-year, following promising data from early human testing. Interim data from an ongoing early-stage trial has shown that a twice daily intake of the pill, PBI-0451, can trigger potent antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 and its emerging variants, Pardes said. The drug was well-tolerated and all adverse events reported so far have been assessed as mild in severity and resolved without intervention, the company added.