KeViRx, Inc. Awarded $1.99 Million

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / KeViRx, Inc., an early-stage pharmaceutical company, announced a $1.99 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense's Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program. The funds will advance KeViRx's small molecule technology, KVX-053, towards an IND for treating pulmonary microvascular leakage and inflammation during acute lung injury (ALI).

ALI, affecting 200,000 patients annually in the U.S., can stem from viral infections, sepsis, or chemical inhalation. The most severe form, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), has a high mortality rate. KeViRx's co-founder, John S. Lazo, highlighted the potential of KVX-053 in addressing dysfunctional pathways in ARDS.

KVX-053, a first-in-class small molecule, inhibits the PTP4A3 phosphatase, restoring damaged endothelial barriers and reducing inflammation. CEO Elizabeth R. Sharlow expressed enthusiasm for the grant, emphasizing its role in accelerating KVX-053's clinical development. The funding also supports continued research collaboration with Old Dominion University's John Catravas.

This project, supported by the Department of Defense's Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program, aims to bring transformative treatments for ALI/ARDS closer to clinical application.