# TREATMENT OF LUNG FIBROSIS : IND PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY

> **NIH NIH R44** · XFIBRA, INC. · 2020 · $1,326,982

## Abstract

Activation of lung myofibroblasts (LMF) of different origins is responsible for the development of lung fibrosis in
in IPF and remarkably, LMF clearance by apoptosis may prevent development of lung fibrosis and lung injury,
and possibly allow recovery from reversal of lung fibrosis. Inhibiting or reversing myofibroblast activation and
macrophage activation (the therapeutic cellular targets) may be critical for the treatment of lung fibrosis in
IPF. Both preventing progression of lung fibrosis and inflammation, as well as possibly, regression of lung
fibrosis despite continued lung injury, as we documented in our pre-clinical studies, are considered important
clinical targets for patients with IPF. Finally, blocking the progression of lung fibrosis may decrease the
demand for lung transplants. The basis for our Research is the development of a novel ‘humanized’
therapeutic peptide. We created a library using analog synthesis to prevent potential pitfalls for human therapy.
We have performed in a step-wise manner assays to select the safest and most efficient ‘humanized’ peptide
(including apoptosis assays in activated primary human lung myofibroblasts; cell-free caspase 8 activation
assays; lung injury/fibrogenesis model; pharmacokinetics; bioassay; CYP-450 inhibition studies; cardiotoxicity
assays; and preliminary toxicology assays). We have developed novel and highly effective anti-fibrotic
peptides in animal models, with no evidences of immunogenicity in state-of-the-art human CD-4+ T-cell and B-
cell assays, and with exceptional stability in human lung microsomal systems and human plasma. The
therapeutic peptide has excellent solubility in water. These features should facilitate administration by
subcutaneous injection once per week (~ 50-200 μL) with excellent bioavailability during preclinical PK
studies judging by the steady-state release in plasma of the peptide from the PEG-30kDa-Peptide, achieving
therapeutic lung concentrations. Xfibra will maintain the inhalation route as an alternative formulation for
development. The proposed compound markedly inhibits the activation of human lung myofibroblast in culture
and in vivo in mice. This compound was not toxic to mice in the preliminary toxicology studies, at least at 100-
fold the therapeutic dose. We found no evidence of liver, lung or cardiac toxicity or inhibition of CYP-450
isoenzymes. The Aims of this SBIR are to complete FDA-mandated, IND-enabling studies. The
available IPF medications are very expensive, and not highly effective in most patients. The FDA agreed with
Xfibra to proceed with IND-enabling studies for XFB-19 (Pre-IND # 131245).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10026462
- **Project number:** 4R44HL147724-02
- **Recipient organization:** XFIBRA, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** MARTINA BUCK
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1,326,982
- **Award type:** 4N
- **Project period:** 2019-08-01 → 2021-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10026462

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10026462, TREATMENT OF LUNG FIBROSIS : IND PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY (4R44HL147724-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10026462. Licensed CC0.

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