Mucpharm Pty Ltd.

COVID-19 is a disease that has multiple facets including an inflammatory storm, it promotes blood clotting and causes kidney damage, mucinous secretions in the lung are of great importance to outcome. Increasingly sticky sputum is associated with critical illness, with considerably raised levels of a specific type of mucous protein (MUC5AC) in sputum in COVID-19 patients. There is a strong link between viral infection and mucus production via multiple inter-cellular signalling pathways including Interleukin (IL)6, IL10 and Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF) whereby the inflammatory storm causes sudden secretion of high volumes of dense mucus.
An Australian pharmaceutical company has developed BromAc (Bromelain & Acetylcysteine) for the palliative treatment of highly mucinous tumors of the appendix and lung. During pre-clinical development, they found that BromAc® rapidly dissolved and removed tumour mucin, making it a potent mucolytic. In combination, bromelain and acetylcysteine disrupt the architecture of the SARS-COV-2 virus in a way that renders it non-infective, reduced cytokines and chemokines in COVID-19 sputum and is a highly effective respiratory mucolytic.
The aim of this study is to assess whether BromAc delivered into the respiratory tract as a nebulised aerosol is tolerated and safe at three specific concentrations in healthy volunteer participants. The investigators will further assess the safety of nebulised BromAc and efficacy of the drug product as a mucolytic and anti-inflammatory, and whether this improves clinical outcome in participants with COVID-19. The hypothesis is that BromAc will be tolerated by patients and will result in mucus clearance, improving oxygenation and compliance in those that are ventilated.
This is a phase I study on the safety of BromAc, where 12 healthy volunteers will receive BromAc as a nebulised aerosol into the respiratory tract. BromAc is a product that combines two existing products to be delivered into the respiratory tract via nebulised aerosol delivery through a mask. The participant will be assessed for symptoms and side effects. The participant will receive nebulised BromAc at the allocated dose level for a total of 3 days. The hypothesis is that nebulised airway delivery of BromAc will be safe at the concentrations assessed.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is an orphan disease, characterized by the progressive accumulation of jelly-like material within the abdomen, which occurs in approximately 2-3 people per million per year. Advanced disease is often the result of tumour perforation and seeding of tumour cells within the peritoneal cavity. Complete cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CCRS HIPEC) is the current standard of care for PMP.
An Australian pharmaceutical company is developing BromAc for diseases involving mucin. This drug is composed of Bromelain and Acetylcysteine. During pre-clinical development, the sponsor found that BromAc rapidly dissolved and removed tumour mucin, making it a potent mucolytic. BromAc in combination have the ability, as shown in pre-clinical studies, to remove the mucin protective framework expressed by cancer including mucin (MUC) 1, MUC2, MUC4, MUC5AC and MUC16. The sponsor has shown the mechanism of action of BromAc - to break peptide and glycosidic linkages and disulphide bonds in tumour produced and respiratory mucin. BromAc has been safe in preclinical development with a manageable adverse event profile and preliminary efficacy in a phase 1 study.
This current study will examine the efficacy and safety of applying BromAc directly into recurrent mucinous tumour deposits in patients that are found to be unsuitable for repeat curative intent intervention by CCRS HIPEC.