Investigating a new treatment to prevent lung disease in premature infants
Official title: Phase 1 Safety, Pharmacokinetic study followed by Phase 2a Proof-of-Concept study of AVR-48, a small molecule macrophage modulator to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia in neonates
Funded at Ayuvis Research, INC. · NIH-11074691 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new medication called AVR-48 to see if it can help prevent lung problems in premature babies, aiming to improve their breathing and overall health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ayuvis Research, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fort Worth, United States) |
| Project start | April 12, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $712,481 |
| NIH project number | 5R44HD112276-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11074691 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are premature infants who are at risk of developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia due to mechanical ventilation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not premature or who do not require mechanical ventilation may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new medication, AVR-48, aimed at preventing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in premature infants. The study will first assess the safety and how the drug is processed in the body, followed by a proof-of-concept phase to evaluate its effectiveness. By targeting inflammation and promoting lung development, AVR-48 could significantly improve respiratory function and survival rates in affected neonates. The research utilizes animal models to test the drug's impact on lung health and development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a new treatment that significantly reduces the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in premature infants, improving their health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using macrophage modulators for similar conditions, indicating potential for success with this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Ayuvis Research, INC.
Fort Worth, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Acharya, Suchismita — Ayuvis Research, INC.
- Study coordinator: Acharya, Suchismita
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Role of uneven lung growth in chronic lung disease from birth to adulthood
This grant explores how mismatched growth of airways, airspaces, and blood vessels during early life might lead to lasting lung problems in bronchopulmonary dysplasia and how that affects people over time.
-
Regulatory T Cells and Lung Disease-Related High Blood Pressure in Adults
This project studies how a type of immune cell called regulatory T cells may influence inflammation and blood vessel changes in lung disease, with potential relevance to adults who have vascular issues in their lungs.
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Understanding how breathing effort in premature babies with lung disease comes from different lung problems
A research project aims to create a patient-specific tool to measure how different features of bronchopulmonary dysplasia contribute to the struggle to breathe in premature infants.
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Role of LKB1 in reduced lung blood vessel growth in BPD
Aims to understand how a cellular regulator (LKB1) affects blood vessel formation in the lungs of preterm infants at risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
-
A new approach to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants
A new treatment strategy aimed at improving lung development in premature babies at risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
-
L-Citrulline for BPD-related Pulmonary Hypertension in Preterm Babies
A first-in-human study will test safe and effective doses of L-citrulline given by mouth to stability-preterm infants at risk for lung blood pressure problems.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.