BARDA teams with Genentech for treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia

The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and Genentech, part of the Roche Group and headquartered in South San Francisco, are partnering to support the acceleration of a Phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate two novel therapeutics for the potential treatment of hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

The single, randomized, placebo controlled Phase 2 clinical trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of the two investigational drugs, MSTT1041A (anti-ST2) and UTTR1147A (IL-22-Fc) in approximately 300 patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia requiring supplemental oxygen. Both may prevent COVID-19 pneumonia progression to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and/or promote convalescence of patients with ARDS. ST2 is the receptor for IL-33, and inhibition of IL-33 signaling via inhibition of ST2 is predicted to reduce maladaptive hyperinflammatory responses. IL22 is a cytokine that promotes epithelial and endothelial cell repair and may prevent secondary bacterial infections.

Currently there are no approved treatments for ARDS caused by COVID-19 pneumonia.

Read more: https://www.medicalcountermeasures.gov/newsroom/2020/genentech-therapeutic/