Drug company NeuroRx Inc announced on Tuesday that it has ordered sufficient drug substance (RLF-100) for the treatment 1m patients with COVID-19 in view of the ongoing pandemic under supply & development agreements with RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding AG (SIX:RLF)(OTCQB:RLFTF).

According to the companies, RLF-100 is still in US FDA-approved phase 2b/3 clinical trials for the treatment of critical COVID-19 in the US. A readout by the study's Data Monitoring Committee is expected within the next month. The European trials with RLF-100T are in preparation and are scheduled to start in Q1 2021.

In order to ensure the availability of adequate drug inventory on demand, the partners with contracted Nephron Pharmaceuticals Inc to manufacture commercial supplies of RLF-100, Bachem Americas to manufacture sufficient RLF-100 drug substance to treat 1m patients as well as a leading nationwide pharmaceutical logistics partner to ensure overnight supply to US hospitals.

RLF-100 (Aviptadil) is a formulation of Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide (VIP), which is known to be highly concentrated in the lungs, where it inhibits coronavirus replication, blocks the formation of inflammatory cytokines, prevents cell death and upregulates the production of surfactant, concluded the companies.