COVID-19
Preventing the inflammatory-related pathogenesis caused by COVID-19
COVID-19 infections are often associated with the overexpression of inflammatory mediators, including cytokines, chemokines and growth factors leading to a hyperinflammatory state known as the “cytokine storm”. Prolonged and systemic cytokine storm activity may cause damage to lungs, liver, kidneys, heart and endothelial cells of blood vessels leading to increased formation of blood clots throughout the body. In elderly or those with pre-existing conditions, the cytokine storm can result in debilitating patient outcomes or death in severe cases.
AMTX-100 in COVID-19 Infections
Amytrx’s lead therapeutic AMTX-100 could play a significant role in modulating the exaggerated inflammatory response seen in COVID-19 infections. AMTX-100 is a novel cell-penetrating peptide that provides broad anti-inflammatory activity associated with the cytokine storm while preserving protective immunity, prioritizing patient safety and immune balance.
We believe AMTX-100 could play a significant role in treating inflammatory diseases like COVID-19 and any new potential zoonotic virus infections.
Matthew A. Gonda, Ph.D.
Amytrx CEO
MOA
AMTX-100 is a first-in-class, cell-penetrating, anti-inflammatory peptide with a novel mechanism of action (MOA) that works intracellularly, without the need for receptors to inhibit a number of large transcription factors (e.g., NFAT, STAT1, NF-kB, AP-1, etc.) containing a mono- or bipartite nuclear localization sequence (NLS) and which use importins for nuclear transport. AMTX-100 is bioengineered from human fibroblast growth factor-4 (FGF-4) and the NLS of NF-kB. Once in the cell, AMTX-100 is a “NLS decoy” that actively competes with the natural process whereby transcription factors with an NLS bind their docking site on importins. The decoy activity of AMTX-100 modulates the activation of inflammatory genes and subsequent expression of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors.