22 September 2020 - - While studying the genetics of the androgen receptor, a team of scientists discovered a possible breakthrough treatment for COVID-19, US-based biotechnology company Applied Biology said.

The team led by Andy Goren, MD from Applied Biology, Flavio A. Cadegiani, MD, MSc, PhD from Corpometria Institute in Brazil, along with other collaborators, have published their discovery in several medical journals.

The manuscript, "What Does Androgenetic Alopecia have to do with COVID-19? An Insight into a Potential New Therapy" (doi: 10.1111/dth.13365), elucidates the possible role of androgens in controlling the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 in human lung cells.

The study on the effects of proxalutamide on COVID-19 has received national IRB approval and will be conducted in Brasilia, Brazil, in non-hospitalized patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 disease. Recruitment of volunteers should start this week.

The approval was received on September 17th, 2020 from the IRB of the National board of Ethics Committee (CONEP), from the Brazilian Ministry of Health, under the name "The Proxa-AndroCoV Trial," number 36700320.8.0000.0023.

Founded in 2002, Applied Biology, Inc, headquartered in Irvine, California, is a biotechnology company specializing in hair and skin science.

Applied Biology develops drugs and medical devices for the treatment of androgen mediated dermatological conditions.

Applied Biology's R and D pipeline includes a topically applied prophylactic treatment for chemotherapy induced alopecia; a novel diagnostic device that can aid dermatologists in identifying non-responders to topical minoxidil; an adjuvant therapy for non-responders to topical minoxidil; and a novel therapy for female pattern hair loss.

Corpometria institute was founded in 2013, and is focused on treating, researching and optimizing healthcare of the major unsolved endocrine-related conditions, including patients with obesity, sarcopenia, menopause and andropause, chronic fatigue and burnout, undertrained athletes, and rare metabolic and endocrine diseases.