Cerecor Announces Exploration of the Role of an Inflammatory Cytokine, LIGHT, in COVID-19 Patients with Acute Lung Injury Lea...
26 March 2020 - 9:30PM
Cerecor Inc. (NASDAQ: CERC), a biopharmaceutical company focused on
becoming a leader in development and commercialization of
treatments for rare pediatric and orphan diseases, today announces
that it will explore the role of an inflammatory cytokine, LIGHT,
in patients with COVID-19 induced Acute Respiratory Distress. The
Company will use its proprietary free LIGHT assay as well as a
multiplex assay to determine whether there are differences in LIGHT
levels and other inflammatory markers including IL-18 and IFN-g in
patients with mild to moderate vs severe disease with Acute Lung
Injury / Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (“ARDS”).
Dr. Garry Neil, Chief Medical Officer for Cerecor, commented,
“We know there is accumulating evidence that suggest that the main
cause for morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 is a dysregulated
immune response causing a “cytokine storm” that can exacerbate lung
injury and in some patients cause Acute Respiratory Distress
Syndrome (ARDS) and even fatal respiratory failure. We believe
there is a strong mechanistic rationale for anti-LIGHT therapy in
patients infected by COVID-19 who progress to ARDS.”
COVID-19 and Auto-Inflammatory
ResponseDysregulated inflammatory response and cytokine
storm in patients with acute infection leading to respiratory
distress and failure is well documented. Many of these patients
require intensive care and ventilation owing to emergence of acute
respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) which is a well-described and
potentially fatal complication of other viral respiratory syndromes
(i.e., SARS, MERS, and H1N1).
In COVID-19 and other human corona respiratory virus (hCoV)
infections, ARDS appears to result from a dysregulated
hyperinflammatory response manifested by the release of excessive
pro‐inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, coined a “cytokine
storm”. This cytokine storm can drive acute lung injury and
multiple system organ failure.
In addition, reports indicate that pulmonary fibrosis, which is
known to be a result of ARDS, is a known COVID-19 infection
complication. The cytokine storm that drives tissue injury and
vascular permeability in the lungs is likely mediated, in part by T
cell, monocytes and macrophages activation with increased
expression of cytokines.
Role of LIGHT in Acute Inflammatory
Response An important immunoregulatory cytokine,
LIGHT (homologous to lymphotoxin, exhibits
inducible expression and competes with HSV
glycoprotein D for binding to
herpesvirus entry mediator, a receptor expressed
on T lymphocyte) is secreted in high levels during
viral infection. Early in infection, LIGHT is released from
neutrophils and macrophages, bind its cellular receptors, which
causes inflammatory cell infiltration and the release of high
levels of TNF and additional pro-inflammatory cytokines. LIGHT also
has a co-stimulatory role in T cell activation driving
proinflammatory and tissue damaging effects. Neutrophils and
macrophages express high levels of LIGHT and TNF and are a major
source of these inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, LIGHT has a key
role in driving pulmonary fibrosis via well characterized
mechanisms. Therefore, neutralizing LIGHT may be beneficial for
severe COVID-19 infection who are at high risk of ARDS and
respiratory failure.
About Cerecor
Cerecor is a biopharmaceutical company focused on becoming a
leader in development and commercialization of treatments for rare
pediatric and orphan diseases. The Company is advancing an emerging
clinical-stage pipeline of innovative therapies. The Company’s
pediatric rare disease pipeline is led by CERC-801, CERC-802 and
CERC-803 (“CERC-800 programs”), which are therapies for inborn
errors of metabolism, specifically disorders known as Congenital
Disorders of Glycosylation (”CDGs”). The FDA granted Rare Pediatric
Disease Designation and Orphan Drug Designation (“ODD”) to all
three CERC-800 programs, thus potentially qualifying the Company to
receive a Priority Review Voucher (“PRV”) upon approval of a new
drug application (“NDA”). The Company is also developing CERC-002,
CERC-006 and CERC-007. CERC-007 is an anti-IL-18 monoclonal
antibody being developed for the treatment of autoimmune
inflammatory diseases such as Adult Onset Stills Disease (“AOSD”)
and Multiple Myeloma (“MM”). CERC-006 is a dual mTOR inhibitor
being developed for the treatment of complex Lymphatic
Malformations. CERC-002 is an anti-LIGHT monoclonal antibody being
developed for the treatment of Pediatric-onset Crohn’s
Disease.
For more information about Cerecor, please visit
www.cerecor.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may include forward-looking statements made
pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical
facts. Such forward-looking statements are subject to significant
risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various
factors (many of which are beyond Cerecor’s control), which could
cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements.
Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with
respect to Cerecor’s plans, objectives, projections, expectations
and intentions and other statements identified by words such as
“projects,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “continue,”
“seeks,” “aims,” “predicts,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,”
“estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “potential,” or similar
expressions (including their use in the negative), or by
discussions of future matters such as: the development of product
candidates or products; timing and success of trial results and
regulatory review; potential attributes and benefits of product
candidates; and other statements that are not historical. These
statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of
Cerecor’s management but are subject to significant risks and
uncertainties, including: drug development costs, timing and other
risks, including reliance on investigators and enrollment of
patients in clinical trials; regulatory risks; Cerecor's cash
position and the need for it to raise additional capital; and those
other risks detailed in Cerecor’s filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ from those set forth
in the forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable
law, Cerecor expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to
release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking
statements contained herein to reflect any change in Cerecor’s
expectations with respect thereto or any change in events,
conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.
For media and investor inquiries
James Harrell, Investor RelationsChief Commercial OfficerCerecor
Inc.jharrell@cerecor.com623.439.2220 office
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