Windtree Announces First Patient Dosed in its Phase 2 Clinical Trial Studying KL4 Surfactant in Acute Lung Injury in Adults with COVID-19

WARRINGTON, Pa., Jan. 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Windtree Therapeutics, Inc. (NasdaqCM: WINT), a biotechnology and medical device company focused on advancing multiple late-stage interventions for acute cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders, today announced that it has dosed the first patient in its Phase 2 clinical trial studying lucinactant in acute lung injury in adults with COVID-19 associated lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Lucinactant is the Company's synthetic KL4 surfactant that is structurally similar to human pulmonary surfactant.

"With COVID-19 cases continuing to increase across the U.S. and globally there's considerable need to develop effective new treatments for those who develop respiratory failure, particularly therapies that can help reduce the intensity of care in the hospital where the availability of beds, ventilators and ICU space are fast reaching short supply levels," said Steve Simonson, M.D., chief medical officer at Windtree Therapeutics. "We have built a strong body of preclinical evidence supporting the potential use of KL4 surfactant for acute lung injury caused by multiple insults including viral infection and we believe that surfactant therapy could potentially  play an important role in supporting COVID-19 patients who develop severe respiratory disease."  

The SARS-CoV-2 virus causing COVID-19 uses the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor for entry into host cells. ACE2 is a surface molecule on alveolar Type 2 cells in the lungs. The Type 2 cells are the source of surfactant production in the lung. Damage or loss of Type 2 cells and the viral pneumonia often associated with COVID-19 may result in impaired surfactant production and increased surfactant degradation.  This process can result in decreased lung compliance and impaired gas exchange leading to increased risk for respiratory failure and ARDS requiring mechanical ventilation.  There are no approved drug therapies for ARDS, yet surfactant abnormalities are a known characteristic of the condition. The Company believes its synthetic KL4 surfactant may have the potential to mitigate surfactant deficiency, improve respiratory parameters and reduce the time a patient spends on mechanical ventilation and the number of days a patient spends in the intensive care unit.

"As more evidence is generated on the long-term effects of COVID-19 induced lung disease, having effective treatments that can potentially mitigate chronic lung damage will be of great importance. This study complements our many years of research and studies on the effectiveness of KL4 surfactant in treating various acute respiratory syndromes," said Craig Fraser, CEO and president of Windtree Therapeutics. "In working with top investigators and trial sites who are experiencing significant increases in ICU patients being treated for COVID-19, we look forward to generating data that may potentially support the development of a needed, new critical care intervention." 

About Windtree's COVID-19 Phase 2 Study:
The initial study will evaluate changes in physiological parameters in COVID-19 patients who are intubated and mechanically ventilated for associated lung injury and ARDS. The study will establish the dosing regimen, tolerability, and functional changes in gas exchange and lung compliance after KL4 surfactant administration. The study will include up to 20 patients with COVID-19 and ARDS and on mechanical ventilation from 4-5 U.S. sites. Dosing will be through the endotracheal tube, with repeat dosing based on changes in oxygenation. Planned outcome measures include: physiologic response - Oxygenation Index (OI), lung compliance on the ventilator and clinical parameters including time on mechanical ventilation, days in intensive care unit and mortality (although this first study will not be powered for these measures). Recruitment is expected to take 3-6 months (depending on COVID-19 rates at study sites). If the initial Phase 2 study results demonstrate adequate safety/tolerability and efficacy on physiological variables, Windtree may initiate two additional clinical trials. One study would more fully assess the impact of KL4 surfactant on clinical endpoints such as time on mechanical ventilation, time in the ICU, mortality. The second study would be to utilize the Company's novel and proprietary Aerosolized Delivery System (ADS) to aerosolize and deliver the KL4 surfactant noninvasively in COVID-19 patients that are at high risk of respiratory failure with an intent to avoid mechanical ventilation, a similar strategy to the Company's respiratory distress syndrome studies in preterm infants. 

About Windtree Therapeutics
Windtree Therapeutics, Inc. is advancing multiple late-stage interventions for acute cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders to treat patients in moments of crisis. Using new clinical approaches, Windtree is developing a multi-asset franchise anchored around compounds with an ability to activate SERCA2a, with lead candidate istaroxime being developed as a first-in-class treatment for acute heart failure and early cardiogenic shock in heart failure. Windtree has also focused on developing AEROSURF® as a non-invasive surfactant treatment for premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome, and is facilitating transfer of clinical development of AEROSURF® to its licensee in Asia, Lee's HK, while Windtree  evaluates other uses for its synthetic KL4 surfactant for the treatment of acute pulmonary conditions including lung injury due to viral, chemical and radiation induced insults. Also in its portfolio is rostafuroxin, a novel precision drug product targeting hypertensive patients with certain genetic profiles.

For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.windtreetx.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company may, in some cases, use terms such as "predicts," "believes," "potential," "proposed," "continue," "estimates," "anticipates," "expects," "plans," "intends," "may," "could," "might," "will," "should" or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on information available to the Company as of the date of this press release and are subject to numerous important factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from the Company's current expectations. Examples of such risks and uncertainties include: risks and uncertainties associated with the ongoing economic and social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, including any adverse impact on the Company's clinical trials or disruption in supply chain; the success and advancement of the  clinical development programs for istaroxime, AEROSURF®, KL4 surfactant and the Company's other product candidates; the Company's ability to secure significant additional capital as and when needed; the Company's ability to access the debt or equity markets; the Company's ability to manage costs and execute on its operational and budget plans; the results, cost and timing of the Company's clinical development programs, including any delays to such clinical trials relating to enrollment or site initiation; risks related to technology transfers to contract manufacturers and manufacturing development activities; delays encountered by the Company, contract manufacturers or suppliers in manufacturing drug products, drug substances, aerosol delivery systems (ADS) and other materials on a timely basis and in sufficient amounts; risks relating to rigorous regulatory requirements, including that: (i) the FDA or other regulatory authorities may not agree with the Company on matters raised during regulatory reviews, may require significant additional activities, or may not accept or may withhold or delay consideration of applications, or may not approve or may limit approval of the Company's  product candidates, and (ii) changes in the national or international political and regulatory environment may make it more difficult to gain regulatory approvals and risks related to the Company's efforts to maintain and protect the patents and licenses related to its product candidates; risks related to the size and growth potential of the markets for the Company's product candidates, and the Company's ability to service those markets; the Company's ability to develop sales and marketing capabilities, whether alone or with potential future collaborators; and the rate and degree of market acceptance of the Company's product candidates, if approved.  These and other risks are described in the Company's periodic reports, including the annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov. Any forward-looking statements that the Company makes in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release.

SOURCE Windtree Therapeutics, Inc.

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