Pulmotect has announced that preclinical testing in mouse models has demonstated that a single dose of its PUL-042 inhaled immunostimulant, which is made up of Toll-like receptor ligands, could protect against infection by SARS-associated coronavirus and by MERS-associated coronavirus. Post-infection, PUL-042 also reduced the amount of virus in the lungs for both of those coronaviruses.
The company is currently developing PUL-042 for the prevention and treatment of respiratory infections in immunosuppressed cancer patients and says that it expects to initiate Phase 2 trials this year. In April 2018, Pulmotect announced that it had raised $12 million for development of PUL-042. Other funding has included $7.1 million from Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) and $3 million from The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health.
Pulmotect CEO Colin Broom commented, “We have demonstrated PUL-042’s unique ability to stimulate the immune system in the lungs to protect against a wide range of pathogens in multiple animal models. With the risks of virulent coronaviruses and other threats increasing, as shown by the recent outbreak in Wuhan that has already spread from China to other countries including the United States, Pulmotect is optimistic that its immunestimulating technology could be useful in mitigating the threats of current and emerging pathogens and protecting vulnerable populations. We were encouraged by PUL-042’s ability to provide protection in animal models of two different coronaviruses and the prospect that we could in the future have an effective therapy.”
President and Chief Operating Officer Brenton Scott added, “PUL-042 has the potential to prevent and treat respiratory complications in many high risk patient populations, including those where no effective therapies are currently available, as is the case with the current coronavirus outbreak. Our Phase 2 development program is intended to pave the way for future clinical trials in a variety of therapeutic settings.”
Read the Pulmotect press release.
