Incon-Immunomet Submits Application for COVID-19 Treatment Development to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyungsoo Park] As the U.S. government actively supports global pharmaceutical companies in developing treatments for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), Incon's subsidiary Immunomet is also accelerating the development of a treatment for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ARDS is known as the leading cause of death among COVID-19 complications.

Incon announced on the 18th that Immunomet has submitted an application related to IM156 to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in response to a request for developing a treatment for ARDS, a COVID-19 complication.

Immunomet has completed the first review with BARDA regarding the ARDS treatment IM156 and submitted the application. After the second review, a White Paper and Proposal will also be submitted. The selection results will be announced at the end of next month. If selected by BARDA, the company will receive funding ranging from approximately 37 billion to 6 billion KRW. It is expected that large-scale Phase 2/3 clinical trials targeting ARDS patients caused by COVID-19 will be conducted in the second half of the year.

Immunomet's IM156 has secured data demonstrating its inhibitory effects on sepsis caused by severe acute inflammatory responses in animal models. Cytokines related to acute inflammatory responses (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, INF-γ) were reduced. The drug also showed suppression effects on cytokine storms. Sepsis and cytokine storms can be major causes of ARDS.

A company official explained, "To smoothly advance the project, we have hired Dr. Robin Robinson, a former BARDA executive, as a consultant," adding, "We expect the clinical trials to proceed smoothly once they begin."

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