Lead on new therapies for cardiovascular disease
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is the first in the United States to participate in a clinical trial that aims to improve oxygen levels and treatment outcomes for COVID-19 patients who are on mechanical ventilation.
In the double-blind, placebo-controlled study, Ohio State Wexner Medical Center researchers are assessing the efficacy and safety of inhaled epoprostenol via the VentaProst aerosol drug delivery system created by Aerogen Pharma. It generates and precisely delivers small, highly respirable droplets of the medication in synchrony with patients’ breathing.
The system features a closed-circuit design that helps protect clinical staff from potential exposure to virus-contaminated patient exhalations.
Delivery of epoprostenol directly to the lungs may offer multiple benefits for COVID-19 patients on mechanical ventilation, says Veronica Franco, MD, study co-investigator and an assistant professor in the Ohio State College of Medicine. The new drug delivery method combines the properties of a potent vasodilator (medication that opens up blood vessels), an anti-inflammatory mediator and an anti-clotting agent. As a result, Dr. Franco says it has the potential to dilate the lung’s vessels to improve blood oxygenation and reduce strain on the heart, while reducing lung inflammation and microvascular coagulation commonly seen in patients with severe COVID-19 infection.
Trial patients will receive up to 10 days of this treatment to see if it reduces respiratory and circulatory failure. Researchers will follow patients for four weeks to determine if the treatment reduces time on the ventilator, in the intensive care unit or in the hospital.
Read more featured stories about The Ohio State University Heart and Vascular Center.
