{"id":528215,"date":"2021-02-01T03:20:01","date_gmt":"2021-02-01T03:20:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.abnewswire.com\/pressreleases\/?p=528215"},"modified":"2021-02-01T03:20:01","modified_gmt":"2021-02-01T03:20:01","slug":"pulmotect-receives-department-of-defense-funding-for-phase2-trials-of-pul042-against-covid19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.abnewswire.com\/pressreleases\/pulmotect-receives-department-of-defense-funding-for-phase2-trials-of-pul042-against-covid19_528215.html","title":{"rendered":"Pulmotect receives Department of Defense funding for Phase-2 trials of PUL-042 against COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Pulmotect<\/a><\/div>\n
Up to $6 million to fund completion of two clinical trials<\/div>\n

Houston, TX – Feb 1, 2021 – <\/strong>Pulmotect, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company, has received funding from the Department of Defense (DOD) to complete two ongoing COVID-19 Phase-2 clinical trials of its innate immune-stimulating drug PUL-042.<\/p>\n

“We are delighted to receive funding from the Department of Defense to complete these clinical trials, both of which are enrolling participants at clinical sites in the U.S.,” said Dr. Colin Broom, CEO of Pulmotect. “We appreciate the support to evaluate PUL-042, which not only has the potential to be effective against SARS-CoV-2 but also has potential for use against other pathogens that infect the respiratory tract.” In the first study, PUL-042 or placebo are being administered to 200 participants by inhalation over a 10-day period to evaluate the prevention of infection and reduction in the severity of COVID-19. In the second study, 100 participants with early symptoms of COVID-19 are receiving PUL-042 or placebo administered over a six-day period.<\/p>\n

Dr. Broom continued, “When delivered by inhalation, PUL-042 activates the innate immune system, the front-line of infection defense, to fight off a wide range of respiratory pathogens. We have a development program to evaluate the effect of PUL-042 in the treatment and prevention of respiratory complications in cancer patients; however, given the current pandemic, we have mobilized our resources towards evaluating the effect of PUL-042 against SARS-CoV-2 infection.”    <\/p>\n

PUL-042, a synergistic combination of two toll-like receptor agonists, activates the lungs’ surface immune system. As microbes, including viruses, land on the epithelial cells of the lung lining, they are destroyed on-contact by antimicrobial peptides and reactive oxygen species (ROS), including superoxides, that are released by epithelial cells. PUL-042 has demonstrated protection against a broad range of respiratory pathogens in pre-clinical models, including the coronaviruses that cause MERS and SARS. With robust pre-clinical protection already shown against multiple pathogens and favorable tolerability demonstrated in clinical trials to date, PUL-042 could offer a broad-spectrum therapy for future epidemics or pandemics, bioterror attacks, and other potential indications.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The two clinical trials are entitled:<\/p>\n