Clinical-stage company RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding AG (SIX:RLF) (OTCQB:RLFTF) and NeuroRx Inc, on Tuesday jointly updated the topline results of 21 patients with critical COVID-19 and respiratory failure and treated with RLF-100 (aviptadil) and admitted to an intensive care unit and compared to 24 control patients treated in the same setting in an open-label prospective study in 45 patients.

About 81% of RLF-100-treated patients survived beyond 60 days over 17% of control patients. Patients treated with RLF-100 demonstrated a nine fold increased probability of survival and recovery from respiratory failure, with a high degree of statistical significance, disclosed the partnership.

The companies revealed that the statistical analysis was performed by Prof. Phil Lavin, FASA, FRAPS of the Boston Biostatistical Research Foundation and scientific findings of the analysis have been submitted for peer review.

RLF-100 (aviptadil) is a formulation of Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide (VIP), which is known to be highly concentrated in the lungs, where it inhibits coronavirus replication, blocks the formation of inflammatory cytokines, prevents cell death and upregulates the production of surfactant, stated the companies.

VIP is produced throughout the body and primarily concentrated in the lungs. VIP has been shown in more than 100 peer-reviewed studies to have potent anti-inflammatory/anti-cytokine activity in animal models of respiratory distress, acute lung injury, and inflammation. About 70% of the VIP in the body is bound to a rare cell in the lung, the alveolar type 2 cell, that is critical to transmission of oxygen to the body.

According to the partnership, the COVID-19-related death is primarily caused by respiratory failure. Before this acute phase, however, there is evidence of early viral infection of the alveolar type 2 cells. These cells are known to have angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors at high levels, which serve as the route of entry for the SARS-CoV-2 into the cells.