Dec. 1, 2021

SAB Biotherapeutics is reporting promising news around its new treatment for the influenza virus.

The Sioux Falls-based company reports top line data from the phase 2a clinical trial for its therapeutic SAB-176 achieved “statistically significant reductions in viral load and clinical symptoms as well as appeared safe and well tolerated.”

SAB-176 was not specifically targeted to the strain of influenza used in the study but achieved statistically significant reduction in virus load nonetheless.

“These trial results support advancing SAB-176 as a potential treatment for seasonal influenza through further clinical studies, and we look forward to sharing additional data as it becomes available,” chief medical officer Tom Luke said in a statement.

The positive clinical results reinforce the ability of SAB’s unique DiversitAb platform to generate “broadly neutralizing antibodies to viral variants,” the company said.

Its COVID-19 therapeutic, SAB-185, has advanced to phase 3 trials based on a positive review of interim safety and efficacy data. In nonclinical studies, the novel therapeutic candidate has shown “potent neutralization of the Munich, Washington and other variant strains, including Delta and Lambda,” SAB said.

SAB, which became listed on the Nasdaq in October, is trading at more than $11 per share.