InVixa announces licensing deal with University of California, Davis for the commercialization of novel inhaled statins for the treatment of COVID-19

InVixa Inc, a biopharmaceutical start-up developing inhaled statins to treat COVID-19, announced today an exclusive licensing deal with the University of California, Davis, a leading US academic and medical institution. COVID-19 caused by infection with SARS-CoV-2, typically manifests as severe lung disease that can progress to acute respiratory failure. This deal provides InVixa with the rights to the intellectual property in order to commercialize inhaled statins for the treatment of COVID-19 and other viral-based respiratory diseases. Financials were not disclosed.

InVixa's scientific co-founder and Chief Medical Officer, Associate Professor Dr. Amir A. Zeki, an expert in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at UC Davis, said, "InVixa is developing inhaled statin therapies that could treat severe lung disease caused by COVID-19. Our initial focus will be to treat hospitalized patients to prevent progression to respiratory failure using our novel inhaled statin formulation. There is also longer-term potential to develop treatments for those with mild symptoms in the outpatient setting, as we currently do for influenza. We're delighted to have a license with UC Davis given their commitment to fostering new discoveries and innovation, their ongoing support as a leading academic institution, and their dedication to improving health in our society particularly in the wake of this global pandemic."

David Lubarsky, Vice Chancellor for Human Health Sciences and CEO of UC Davis Health, said, "This is another excellent example of leveraging UC Davis Health's scientific resources and entrepreneurial spirit to explore solutions for crucial health care needs. I applaud Dr. Zeki and his team for pursuing novel approaches based on their direct clinical experiences and research. There is a tremendous need to help patients facing respiratory failure, which has been the leading cause of mortality for patients with COVID-19."

Given that oral statins are one of the most successful and widely prescribed drugs in the world with extensive safety data available, InVixa's inhaled product has a rapid route to market with label expansion opportunities.

The Company's technology is based on using statins in a new formulation delivered using inhalation devices, rather than swallowing a pill, to get the drug directly into the nose and lungs, and thereby, more effectively and efficiently treat the respiratory illness caused by SARS-CoV-2.  

Statins inhibit the mevalonate pathway, a fundamental metabolic cascade that is involved in numerous pathological processes in the body. By blocking this pathway in part, inhaled statins are predicted to dampen lung inflammation and reduce COVID-19 disease severity.

InVixa is finalizing its pre-clinical testing to progress its lead development candidate into human clinical testing. The company expects results from these pre-clinical studies in early 2021 to inform the planning of forthcoming human clinical trials later in 2021.

About InVixa

InVixa's mission is to develop novel and innovative inhaled therapies for the treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).

InVixa is led and advised by an ambitious team with a strong background in pioneering respiratory clinical care and research, business development, and financing. The team has first-hand experience in the research and development of inhaled statins for the treatment of airway disorders such as asthma, and is well-positioned to advance this approach as a therapy for COVID-19.

InVixa's scientific co-founder and Chief Medical Officer, Associate Professor Dr. Amir A. Zeki, is an expert in pulmonary pathobiology and is a Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine sub-specialist at a leading academic medical center, the University of California, Davis (Sacramento, California). He has extensive first-hand clinical experience in the treatment of pulmonary disorders, with special sub-specialty expertise in asthma and COPD.  Dr. Zeki also continues to care for critically ill patients with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit, which initially inspired his desire to develop a novel therapy for this devastating infection. 

InVixa is a recent 2020 spin out of his basic science and clinical research at UC Davis, along with his first company, InStatin, where Dr Zeki is also a scientific co-founder and CSO/CMO.  InStatin is developing unique inhaled statin formulations for the treatment of asthma and COPD.   InVixa has secured financial investment from undisclosed private Canadian investors. InVixa is planning to progress its novel drug candidates through preclinical studies in early 2021. F