Vasomune Therapeutics to Present Poster at American Thoracic Society Conference

Vasomune Therapeutics Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development of treatments for vascular dysfunction-related diseases, has announced that it will present a Late-Breaking scientific poster at the 2024 American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference. The event is scheduled to take place from May 17-22, 2024, at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, California. The presentation will feature data from Phase 1 clinical trials of their lead drug candidate, AV-001, which is being developed in collaboration with AnGes Inc.

AV-001 is a pioneering, fully synthetic PEGylated peptide that targets the Tie2 receptor. This receptor is crucial for maintaining vascular stability, barrier integrity, and endothelial cell quiescence. The activation of the Tie2 receptor by AV-001 has shown promising therapeutic potential for treating pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), conditions that can result from infections by SARS-CoV-2 or other pathogens. Currently, AV-001 is undergoing a Phase 2a study (NCT05123755) involving patients hospitalized with pneumonia.

Dr. Brian E. Jahns, President and Chief Operating Officer of Vasomune, emphasized the significance of presenting the Phase 1 development data. He acknowledged the support of the National Research Council Canada and the United States Department of Defense, which provided crucial funding for the Phase 1 study and the advancement of AV-001 into clinical trials. Ei Yamada, President and CEO of AnGes, highlighted the importance of the Phase 1 trial (NCT04737486), which demonstrated the safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of AV-001, thereby supporting its further development.

The detailed presentation is set for May 21, 2024, under the session titled "ARDS and Acute Respiratory Failure: Mechanism, Risk and Outcomes." It will cover a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 1 study examining single and multiple-dose pharmacokinetics of AV-001 in healthy subjects, specifically targeting the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome.

AV-001 was originally discovered and developed at Sunnybrook Research Institute, located at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. Vasomune Therapeutics, Inc. is spearheading its development under a co-development agreement with AnGes, Inc. AV-001 targets the Tie2 receptor, a transmembrane protein prevalent on endothelial cells in the vascular system. By activating the Tie2-Angiopoietin signaling pathway, AV-001 enhances vascular stability, restores barrier function, and prevents vascular leakage. This mechanism addresses the vascular dysfunction that underlies various medical conditions, including bacterial and viral ARDS, sepsis, hemorrhagic shock, acute kidney injury, stroke, and vascular dementia. Pre-clinical studies have demonstrated that AV-001 improves pulmonary function and survival rates by tightening endothelial cell junctions and promoting cell survival, thereby reducing pulmonary edema.

Vasomune Therapeutics, Inc., founded in 2014, is dedicated to developing innovative treatments to harness the body's natural defenses against disease. The company's primary focus has been on normalizing vascular function, with AV-001 representing a significant milestone, transitioning from laboratory research to clinical application. Vasomune operates from its headquarters and laboratories in Toronto, Canada, and maintains additional offices in Raleigh, North Carolina.

AnGes, Inc., established in December 1999, is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in gene-based treatments. It gained conditional approval for its lead product, Collategene®, for treating lower limb ischemic ulcers and commenced its commercialization in Japan in 2019. AnGes is progressing in the development of AV-001 for COVID-19, viral and bacterial pneumonia, and an NF-κB decoy oligonucleotide for chronic back pain. Additionally, the company expanded its genome-editing capabilities by acquiring EmendoBio in December 2020.