Inhaled ZYESAMI treats severe COVID-19, which will be studied in Phase II/III

Pharmaceutical company NeoRx announced today that it will work with UCI Health at the University of California, Irvine, to study the role of inhaled ZYESAMI™ (aviptadil) in treating patients with severe COVID-19 (Phase II/III clinical trials).
the purpose of the current study is to determine whether the use of ZYESAMI™ (aviptadil) in the early stages of COVID-19 can reduce the risk of developing severe COVID-19 due to respiratory failure.
respiratory failure is the leading cause of death from COVID-19.
ZYESAMI ™ is a synthetic psychovascular active intestinal peptide (VIP).
data show that the drug protects the anti-bubble type II cells, which are the main targets of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
VIPs can prevent the replication of coronavirus in laboratory experiments, increase the production of pulmonary surfactants and prevent the production of virally induced inflammatory cytokines.
Richard Lee, head of lung and critical care at
UCI, said: "We have seen first-hand the devastating effects of COVID-19 and recognise the importance of developing potential therapies, particularly those such as ZYESAMI™.
it is expected to treat patients with severe COVID-19 or earlier ICUs to reduce disease progression and respiratory failure."
process of reducing COVID-19 could have far-reaching implications for alleviating the ICU and hospital occupancy crisis in the United States.
in Orange County, California, where UCI Health is located, 90.0 percent of ICU beds and 80.7 percent of hospital beds are currently occupied.