AVM0703 has Applications to Treat Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
The American Lung Association describes acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) as a life-threatening lung injury that allows fluid to leak into the lungs. Breathing becomes difficult and oxygen cannot get into the body. Most people who get ARDS are already at the hospital for trauma or illness. Lung injuries can occur from trauma, an overwhelming immune response due to an infection, allergic reaction or a cell/gene therapy product or trauma, accidents, etc.
In inflammation, blood vessels and the lymphatic system deliver fluids with cytokine and growth factor proteins to the location of injury to hasten the healing. In some cases, the immune system goes overboard in its response due to the severity of the injury. Too much of this fluid in the lungs can be life-threatening. By “turning down” the immune response with AVM0703, the inflammation, and therefore fluid, could be reduced.
AVM0703 induces the rapid mobilization of gamma/delta+ Natural Killer T-cells (AVM-NKT). These highly active cells are expected to not only have the potential to reduce the immune response but also phagocytize infectious agents. It is the subject of a clinical study that has received “Permission to Proceed” from the FDA, for the treatment of patients with moderate-to-severe ARDS due to Influenza or COVID-19. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04366115).
The markers on the AVM-NKT cells are consistent with those found on other cells that can phagocytize, or engulf and inactivate infectious agents. This potential will continue to be explored.
Looking forward, AVM0703 may provide an approach for ARDS that is driven by the disease or trauma rather than the mediating agent, whether due to infectious diseases such as COVID-19, Influenza, or other types of lung injuries.
