	SGS has announced the receipt of approval from Belgium’s Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP) to begin a new clinical trial of a potential treatment for patients with COVID-19 related respiratory failure.

	According to a July 7, 2020 press release, SGS has already initiated the first site in the trial, which is called “COVA study-a Clinical Trial with Sarconeos (BIO101) for the Treatment of Patients with COVID-19 Related Respiratory Failure.” The trial itself is being conducted by Biophytis, a French biotech company, which selected SGS as a result of its experience as a contract research organization.

	Multiple sites will be involved in the clinical trial, which will evaluate how Sarconeos (BIO101) helps to inhibit the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) through activation of the mitochondrial assembly (Mas) receptor, a key component of the protective arm of the renin angiotensin system (RAS). Stage one, which is taking place at the AX Sint Maarten hospital in Mechelen, Belgium, will involve 50 COVID-19 positive participants who have developed severe respiratory symptoms in the last seven days.

	“We are very excited to open the first trial site in Belgium and look forward to enrolling patients in the coming weeks,” said Steven Thys, SGS’s director of Global Clinical Operations, in the press release. “We have been working intensively with our partners at AZ Sint-Maarten and Biophytis to get this COVA study started as quickly as possible. The positive and fast approval given by FAMHP is the result of excellent teamwork and demonstrates our commitment to supporting biotech companies such as Biophytis as it advances its research into new therapies against COVID-19.”

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SGS has announced the receipt of approval from Belgium’s Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP) to begin a new clinical trial of a potential treatment for patients with COVID-19 related respiratory failure.