The studies will be conducted in the U.S. (including the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA), Italy (Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital in Bologna), and Israel (Bar-Ilan University and Technion Israel Institute of Technology). In total, over 400 patients are expected to be enrolled.

Previous preclinical studies have demonstrated that the active ingredient of the drug, angiotensin (Ang)-(1-7), supplements the loss of enzyme activity caused by SARS-CoV-2 binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). By replacing the peptide with TXA127, the company hopes that it will provide protection and restore the ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/Mas axis.

The drug has also been shown to reduce fibrosis, stabilize endothelial and epithelial barrier function, and reduce inflammation in preclinical models of acute lung injury.

CSL Behring begins phase II study of COVID-19 therapy
CSL Behring has enrolled the first patient in its phase clinical II study to assess the safety and efficacy of CSL312 (garadacimab, factor XIIa-inhibitory...

GoldenBiotech moves COVID-19 drug to phase II
Golden Biotechnology (GoldenBiotech), a Taiwanese-based biopharmaceutical company, has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to begin a...

RevImmune initiates phase II study for COVID-19 immunotherapy
RevImmune has launched a phase II clinical trial of CYT107 immune therapy for treatment of COVID-19 and is preparing to expand to the U.S.