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Development of Impentri, an intravenous imatinib formulation for Covid-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Project description

Repurposing imatinib for the treatment of severe pneumonia in COVID-19 patients

Excess fluid in the lungs is a hallmark of severe COVID-19 infection. This accumulation results from direct damage to cilia and mucus cells and is in part due to plasma extravasation triggered by the immune response. Imatinib is a generic drug that has been shown to reduce plasma extravasation following inflammation in animal models. It is a pyrimidine derivative that functions as a specific inhibitor of a number of tyrosine kinases, and it is used to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia, gastrointestinal stromal tumors and a number of other malignancies. The EU-funded Impentri project aims to conduct a multi-center, randomised, open-label, double-blind, Phase IIb trial to evaluate the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of imatinib in patients with coronavirus-associated lung conditions.

Objective

The accumulation of fluid in the lungs is a significant feature of the pathology in patients with severe Covid-19 infection. This build up of fluid, contributes to difficulty in breathing and in some cases death. This fluid in the lungs results in part from direct damage to cilia and mucus cells and resulting debris and in part due to plasma extravasation triggered by the immune response to infection and associated damage.

Imatinib, a generic marketed drug has been shown to reduce plasma extravasation following inflammatory challenge in animal models and this effect is supported by anecdotal observations in the clinic.

This project proposes to rapidly implement a multi-center, randomized, open label, double-blind, Phase IIb study to evaluate the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of imatinib mesilate in patients with corona-virus associated pneumonitis. 100 patients entering ICU with a diagnosis of corona-virus associated pneumonitis will be randomised, half receiving i.v. imatinob , 200mg bid for 5 days and one half placebo. Adverse events, immunological parameters and imatinib pharmacokineticswill be monitored.

Outcome measures
Primary: PaO2/FiO2 ratio.
Secondary: rate of intubation/need for mechanical ventilation, pulmonary edema on high resolution CT, Oxygenation Index, respiratory mechanics, duration of mechanical ventilation, fluid balance, ICU length of stay, mortality.

This project has already received EMA scientific advice for the treatment of acute respirator
y distress syndrome and has granted orphan drug status.

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

RIA - Research and Innovation action

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-JTI-IMI2-2020-21-single-stage

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Coordinator

EXVASTAT LTD
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 536 600,50
Address
BURNHAM HOUSE SPLASH LANE WYTON
PE28 2AF HUNTINGDON
United Kingdom

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
East of England East Anglia Cambridgeshire CC
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 859 369,50

Participants (4)

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