UTHSCT COVID-19 Research: Patient Treatment
April 9, 2020
UTHSCT COVID-19 Research: Patient Treatment
Two researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler are currently working to help patients recover from severe lung injury associated with COVID-19 infection. With research surrounding the development of a COVID-19 vaccine and diagnostic testing underway at UT Health Science Center, this project differs by exploring the potential application of a drug previously developed by the two investigators. If successful, their work could provide essential treatment and a restorative pathway to good health.
This COVID-19 project is derivative of over 15 years of research conducted by Professor Sreerama Shetty, PhD, in collaboration with Senior Vice President for Research and Dean for the School of Medical Biological Sciences Steven Idell, MD, PhD. A compound called LTI-03 was identified as being able to prevent lung scarring in preclinical testing. It is now in phase I clinical trial testing sponsored by Lung Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology start-up founded by Dr. Idell, which has attracted over $50 million in investments. Now, the duo is exploring LTI-03’s potential application for COVID-19 patients.
The factors that cause severe lung injury in lung scarring and acute lung injury are commonly seen in coronaviral pneumonias that have previously been described in SARS and MERS, which caused past lethal epidemics that were more limited in scope than that associated with COVID-19. COVID-19 is a new pathogen, so less is known about the lung injury, although early reports suggest that the lung injury it causes is similar. LTI-03 can be administered through inhalation and will soon be tested in models of COVID-19 to see if it can prevent early lung inflammation and scarring that typically occurs in patients with severe COVID-19 lung infection. Should this research yield successful outcomes, the LTI-03 could rapidly be made available for clinical trial testing, and if successful, provide novel treatment for patients afflicted with severe COVID-19 lung injury.
Now, more than ever, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler’s commitment to ground-breaking research stands to provide answers on a global scale to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Grounded in decades of pulmonary research, UT Health Science Center at Tyler’s researchers are tirelessly working to treat patients if they develop severe COVID-19 pneumonia. At few times in our history has research been as important as it is now, and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler investigators, like research professionals across the nation, are deeply committed to the fight to restore patient and community health, as well as normalcy in this unprecedented time.