Aerpio Pharma, based in Ohio, has initiated a phase 2 clinical trial for its drug razuprotafib, targeting the treatment of blood vessel damage in hospitalized patients with moderate to severe COVID-19. The drug, administered as a subcutaneous injection three times daily, aims to stabilize blood vessels in the lungs and other organs, addressing one of the less recognized yet severe symptoms of COVID-19: inflammation and injury to blood vessels.
Recent clinical findings have established a significant connection between severe COVID-19 cases and pulmonary angiopathy, or blood vessel disease, which includes diminished blood flow to the lungs and an elevated risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Razuprotafib works by activating Tie2 receptor proteins on endothelial cells, which play a crucial role in the formation, repair, and stabilization of blood vessels.
The RESCUE trial, involving 180 COVID-19 patients also suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), will evaluate the safety of razuprotafib, patient survival rates at days 7 and 28, the duration of hospital stays, and the drug's impact on symptom severity. Conducted at several medical centers, including the University of California - Irvine Medical Centre, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, and the University of Cincinnati, the trial seeks to confirm the drug's efficacy in reducing inflammation, preserving artery and vein function, and preventing 'capillary leak,' a condition that exacerbates ARDS.
Richard Becker from the University of Cincinnati, a lead investigator in the trial, highlighted the potential of razuprotafib to maintain blood vessel integrity, reduce the likelihood of blood clotting, and mitigate ARDS. He also noted the drug's targeted, science-based approach and its potential antiviral effects. Additionally, razuprotafib is being explored in another phase 2 trial, I-SPY_COVID, alongside other drugs, to identify promising treatments for COVID-19-related ARDS.
