Developmental Compound to Treat Chemically Induced Lung Injury

A novel small molecule therapeutic has shown (in preclinical studies) that it can aid in reducing and preventing tissue damage in the lungs.

The new compound, ALS-886, has demonstrated efficacy in both scavenging existing free radicals and sequestering free iron. Animal toxicology studies suggest the safety and benign side effect profile of ALS-886, which could prove beneficial in the critical care setting and as a potential prophylactic therapy. ALS-886 may also have applicability for other conditions in which free radicals cause tissue damage, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), ischemic stroke, and myocardial infarction (MI). An open investigational new drug (IND) procedure is in place with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA, Rockville, MD, USA) to evaluate ALS-886 in human clinical trials, and is currently in Phase I clinical trials. Additionally, the developer of ALS-886, Advanced Life Sciences (ALS, Woodridge, IL, USA), has announced a collaboration with the United Kingdom (UK) Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl, Porton Down, UK), an agency of the UK's Ministry of Defense (MoD, London, UK) to evaluate ALS-886 as a treatment following lung injury that results from the inhalation of chemicals that damage the lung surface.

"We are excited to announce that Dstl has selected ALS-886 for evaluation as a novel therapy with potential to reduce the effects that result from damage to the lung surface,” said Michael T. Flavin, Ph.D., chairman and CEO of Advanced Life Sciences. "Dstl is internationally recognized for its ability to evaluate new therapeutic countermeasures that combat chemical and biological warfare agents, and we are very excited to partner with them to develop ALS-886 for potential procurement as a medical countermeasure.”

ARDS is a severe lung disease characterized by inflammation of the lung parenchyma leading to impaired gas exchange with concomitant systemic release of inflammatory mediators causing inflammation, hypoxemia, and frequently resulting in multiple organ failure. ARDS is often lethal, usually requiring mechanical ventilation and admission to an intensive care unit (ICU). The annual incidence of ARDS is 1.5–13.5 people per 100,000 in the general population, but its incidence among the mechanically ventilated ICU population is much higher.


Related Links:
UK Ministry of Defence
Advanced Life Sciences
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory