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About ARDS

Globally, acute respiratory distress syndrome affects over 3 million people a year. In the US, until recently, approximately 200,000 patients were stricken annually with ARDS.  ARDS can be caused by a variety of insults including bacterial and viral pneumonia, sepsis, smoke inhalation, aspiration, and, most recently, the novel COVID-19 virus.  ARDS is a life-threatening condition causing widespread capillary leakage and inflammation of the lungs.  Breathing becomes difficult and oxygen cannot get into the body. Treatment options for ARDS are limited beyond mechanical ventilation, and approximately 40 percent of ARDS patients do not survive.

Overview

  • ARDS is a severe form of acute lung injury that prevents oxygen from reaching the lungs and bloodstream
  • The primary cause of ARDS is the movement of inflammatory cells, especially white blood cells (Neutrophils) from tissue and blood stream into the lung
  • Once in the lung, these cells release pro inflammatory molecules, called cytokines; this “cytokine leads to ARDS
  • Activated MARCKS Protein is critical for inflammatory cells to move to the injured lung
  • BIO 11006 inhibits activation of MARCKS Protein, preventing the influx of inflammatory cells into the lung and thereby reverses ARDS

Normal vs Injured Alveolus

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BIO-11006 has been shown to prevent ARDS through inhibition of motility of inflammatory cells that cause a “cytokine storm” in the lungs, and even reverse established ARDS

There is a significant unmet need for an ARDS cure today

People who develop ARDS are usually ill due to another disease or a major injury…ARDS may develop over a few days, or it can get worse very quickly…ARDS can develop at any age… Treatments for ARDS may help prevent serious or life threatening complications, including organ damage or organ failure

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute

Unfortunately, no drug has been proven to be effective in preventing or managing ARDS . The chief treatment strategy is supportive care and focuses on 1) reducing shunt fraction , 2) increasing oxygen delivery, 3) decreasing oxygen consumption, and 4) avoiding further injury… Despite advances in critical care, ARDS still has high morbidity and mortality. Even those who survive can have a poorer quality of life. While many risk factors are known for ARDS, there is no way to prevent the condition

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS); (01/05/20

ARDS has a high mortality rate. The treatment protocols are very complex, and one look at the numbers in China tells us the potential to overwhelm the system, any system be it the U.S. or China, is a great risk. ARDS is likely the factor that tips most pneumonia (& likely Coronavirus) patients to a high risk, high mortality outcome. A universal treatment that can limit ARDS could be a life saver

Dawson James Securities

There is no cure for ARDS at this time. Treatment focuses on supporting the patient while the lungs heal

American Lung Association