NIJMEGEN, The Netherlands – November 8, 2024: Khondrion, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in mitochondrial disease therapies, and Amsterdam UMC together with Vrije University Amsterdam have announced to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial to test its leading drug candidate, sonlicromanol, in patients struggling with persistent post-COVID symptoms. These longlasting effects—such as chronic fatigue, post-exertional malaise, brain fog, and symptoms worsened by physical or mental activity—continue to impact millions of lives globally. This trial is funded by the Dutch Organisation for knowledge and innovation in health, healthcare and well-being (ZonMw; project number 11080022420008), with patient recruitment set to begin by the end of Q1 2025.
Understanding the Challenge of Post-COVID Symptoms
Even after recovering from the initial infection, many patients experience enduring health issues collectively known as “post-COVID” or “long COVID.” Common symptoms include severe fatigue, cognitive impairment (brain fog), and post-exertional malaise—a significant worsening of symptoms following exertion. These challenges make everyday tasks like working, exercising, and socializing difficult, heavily affecting quality of life for those affected. Recent research points to mitochondrial dysfunction—the impaired ability of cells to produce energy—as a potential root cause of these ongoing symptoms.
A Promising New Approach: The “Sonlicromanol in Post-COVID” Study
The Phase 2 study, officially titled “Sonlicromanol in Post-COVID,” will employ a double-blind, placebo-controlled design, the most rigorous standard for clinical trials. It aims to evaluate whether sonlicromanol can provide relief by mitigating the cytotoxic effects of mitochondrial dysfunction, the suspected underlying driver of post-COVID symptoms. The trial will give Khondrion and Amsterdam UMC valuable early insights into the drug’s potential effectiveness for this new application.
Prof. Dr. Jan Smeitink, CEO of Khondrion, highlighted the versatility of the drug: “Sonlicromanol, which has advanced to Phase 3 development for primary mitochondrial diseases, shows promise as a ‘pipeline-in-a-product’ due to its unique triple mode of action that combats the pathomechanisms that are common to many forms of mitochondrial dysfunction. We’re excited to explore how sonlicromanol may help patients that suffer from post-COVID, treating it as a secondary mitochondrial disease.”
Sonlicromanol: A Breakthrough in Mitochondrial Dysfunction Therapy
Sonlicromanol is a first-in-class drug is a first-in-class, brain-penetrant redox modulator with and inflammatory properties that mitigates the detrimental effects caused by mitochondrial dysfunction. By mitigating the effects of mitochondrial dysfunction, sonlicromanol offers a novel therapeutic approach for the most challenging symptoms of post-COVID. The newly secured ZonMW funding for this trial represents a critical opportunity to test its efficacy, with potential benefits for thousands of patients in the Netherlands and millions worldwide.
A Strategic Move for Investors and Public Health Advocates
This Phase 2 trial marks an important milestone in addressing the global challenge of post-COVID. With the potential to open new markets for sonlicromanol and expand its therapeutic applications, the study represents a strategic investment opportunity in the evolving field of mitochondrial medicine. For patients, their families, and healthcare professionals, this research could pave the way toward a more effective treatment for post-COVID conditions and provide renewed hope for a better quality of life.