Citius Pharmaceuticals has entered an exclusive six-month option agreement to licence a stem cell therapy from Novellus to treat acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) related to Covid-19 infection.
Novellus’ mRNA-based cell-reprogramming technology is designed to generate mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with ‘superior’ immunomodulatory properties.
The companies said that MSCs have demonstrated safety and effectiveness in more than 900 clinical trials of various inflammatory diseases, including ARDS.
Citius Pharmaceuticals CEO Myron Holubiak said: “ARDS is the most common cause of respiratory failure and mortality in Covid-19 patients.