Memo Therapeutics presents new results for kidney study

(CONNECT) Memo Therapeutics presented further analysis of results from the Phase II study of its compound Potravitug at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the European Renal Association in Glasgow. The novel therapeutic antibody is directed against BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) infections, known as BK nephropathy, in recipients of transplanted kidneys.

The presentation was given by Dr. Abdolreza Haririan, according to a statement from the spin-off of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, which is based at the Bio-Technopark Schlieren-Zurich. He is Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland and Director of Studies. It comprised the data from the randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled phase II study "SAFE KIDNEY II". A comparison with an external control group was also presented. According to the study, 44.9 percent of people in the potravitug group were able to completely eradicate the virus by week 20, compared with only 27.3 percent in the comparison group.

"BKPyV infection continues to be one of the most significant infectious complications following kidney transplantation, yet there are currently no approved therapies available for these patients," Haririan is quoted as saying. "These additional analyses support the results of the SAFE KIDNEY II study and demonstrate a consistently positive antiviral effect of potravitug compared to corresponding control groups."

Memo Therapeutics CEO Erik van den Berg emphasizes the potential of Potravitug "to become the first targeted therapy for kidney transplant recipients with BK polyomavirus infection".

Memo Therapeutics was granted fast-track status by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 2023 and orphan drug status in the European Union in December 2025. According to van den Berg, the pivotal phase III trial is scheduled to begin this year. ce/mm