TP508 & Covid-19
There remains a critical need for a therapeutic to be used in combination with antivirals to prevent COVID-19 progression and reduce post-recovery complications. SARS-CoV-2-induces a “cytokine storm” in the lungs and causes vascular damage throughout the body. Viral infection and cytokine-induced vascular damage initiate intravascular coagulation that leads to multiple organ failure and post-recovery damage to the brain and heart. Thus, COVID-19 is now recognized as an endothelial dysfunction-related disease.
TP508, targets endothelial cells to restore vascular function and modulate immune responses after injury. A single injection of TP508 24 hours after SARS-CoV-2 infection almost completely blocks the virus-induced cytokine storm (including upregulation of IL-6 and TNFα) in animals expressing the human ACE2 receptor for CoV-2.
Other preclinical studies show that TP508 can prevent vascular changes that are associated with COVID-19 systemic disease progression.
- TP508 reduces radiation-induced coagulopathy and hemorrhage in brains, hearts, and lungs to prevent multiple organ failure
- TP508 attenuates neuroinflammation and blood brain barrier changes induced by radiotherapy and traumatic brain injury
- TP508 reverses ischemic effects in the heart following acute myocardial infarct
Thus, TP508 may reduce inflammation and mitigate vascular effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in lungs, heart, brain and other tissues to reduce disease progression, allow for earlier patient recovery, and prevent post-recovery neurological and cardiovascular complications.
Chrysalis was recently funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to complete IND-enabling work to allow initiation of human clinical trials in COVID-19 patients.