Pharmaceutical company reports success in COVID-19 treatment trial at Penrose hospital

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- A new COVID-19 treatment trial approved by the FDA is underway at Penrose-St. Francis Hospital in Colorado Springs.

The drug, Ampion, is given to COVID-19 patients through an IV. Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. believes Ampion may be effective in stopping the inflammatory cascade associated with COVID-19 cases.

The trial to test the drug as a possible COVID-19 treatment started at Penrose-St. Francis hospital in Colorado Springs. The study selected random adults with COVID-19 who were receiving supplemental oxygen.

The majority of the patients in the control group were prescribed Remdesivir anti-viral treatment. In contrast, no patients in the IV Ampion group received that anti-viral therapy, according to the drugmaker.

Ampio Pharmaceuticals said all patients treated with the Ampion improved after treatment and deemed by the World Health Organization as a stronger clinical improvement compared to the control group.

"Treatment options for COVID-19 are limited and the country continues to observe rising numbers of infection. These Phase I study results provide encouraging results that IV Ampion may be a safe and effective treatment for COVID-19 infected patients admitted to the hospital and needing supplemental oxygen," the company said in a news release.

According to Ampio Pharmaceuticals patients will be followed over the next few months to complete the safety and endpoint assessments for the trial.