Arch Biopartners Clinical Team Publishes Data from Phase II Trial for LSALT Peptide Targeting Organ Inflammation in Hospitalized Patients Infected with SARS-CoV-2

• British Medical Journal Open publishes paper detailing the results of the international Phase II human trial for LSALT peptide targeting acute lung and kidney inflammation in hospitalized patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus
  
  
• Phase II findings previously disclosed support dipeptidase-1 (DPEP-1) as a relevant therapeutic target for diseases of the lung, kidneys and liver where inflammation plays a major role.
  
  
• New biomarker data from the pandemic Phase II trial, provides further scientific rationale for Arch to bring LSALT peptide into larger trials to inhibit DPEP-1 mediated organ inflammation.
  
  
• Arch is currently performing a Phase II human trial to support LSALT peptide as a first ever treatment for preventing cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury.
  

TORONTO, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arch Biopartners Inc., (“Arch” or the “Company”) (TSX Venture: ARCH and OTCQB: ACHFF), announced today that it has published a peer reviewed paper in the British Medical Journal Open (BMJ Open) detailing the results of the international Phase II human trial for LSALT peptide targeting acute lung and kidney inflammation in hospitalized patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus. LSALT peptide is a DPEP-1 inhibitor and the Company’s lead drug candidate for preventing and treating inflammation injury in the kidneys, lungs, and liver.

The paper in BMJ Open describes the clinical highlights, outcomes and biomarker results of the study. The Phase II trial was an international, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, proof of concept study of LSALT peptide for the prevention of organ inflammation such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. The exploratory, adaptive trial was initiated in the early stages of the global pandemic to identify clinical signals of efficacy for LSALT peptide in the treatment of acute lung and kidney inflammation.

The results of the Phase II trial provided first-ever evidence validating DPEP-1 as a mediator of organ inflammation and therapeutic target in humans. In addition, LSALT peptide was well tolerated with no safety issues related to the drug.

New biomarker data for LSALT peptide was disclosed for the first time in the BMJ Open publication. An analysis of serum inflammatory biomarkers was performed from blood samples collected from study participants. Biomarkers analyzed which relate to organ inflammation included cytokines and chemokines such as IL-6, CXCL8, CXCL10, IL-1β and CCL7. Collectively, a greater proportion of inflammatory biomarkers decreased in patients receiving LSALT peptide compared with placebo. In particular, the reduction of CXCL10 in the LSALT peptide group versus the placebo group was statistically significant at the end of treatment.