July 8, 2020 -- Constant Therapeutics' peptide drug TXA127 will advance to phase II clinical trials for the treatment of hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
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.