# Targeting Neutrophil Extracellular Traps for Acute Lung Injury

> **NIH NIH R43** · NEUTROLIS, INC. · 2020 · $209,500

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Acute lung injury (ALI), and its more severe form, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), are life-
threatening conditions with no FDA-approved pharmacologic therapy. More than 200,000 people suffer from
ALI/ARDS annually in the US. They are primarily ICU patients who suffer secondary organ injury to the lungs as
a result of trauma, transfusion, burns, infection, sepsis, hemorrhagic shock, smoke inhalation, or oxygen
exposure. ALI/ARDS has demonstrated mortality rates as high as 40% as well as significant long-term morbidity.
ALI/ARDS pathogenesis is characterized by neutrophilic inflammation and the release of Neutrophil Extracellular
Traps (NETs). Neutrolis’ founding team has deep understanding of the biology and pathology caused by NETs.
NETs are lattices of high-molecular weight chromatin filaments complexed with toxic proteins. In ALI/ARDS,
NETs accumulate in alveolar cavities and capillaries of the lung and prevent blood oxygenation. Neutrolis has
developed a lead candidate for therapeutic targeting of NETs.
In this research proposal, Neutrolis will generate information on non-clinical properties and formulation of its lead
that are required for the pre-IND meeting with the FDA. Specifically, the key outcomes of these aims are to
determine the most effective route of administration. Neutrolis will assess an intravenous and inhalational method
of drug delivery for treatment of ALI, and characterize their (1) efficacy dose, (2) pharmacological (PK/PD), and
(3) toxicological properties.
In summary, Neutrolis is well positioned to bring its proprietary developmental lead for treating ALI into
the clinic. Given that NETs are abundant in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, Neutrolis aims to
ultimately address the multiplicity of inflammatory conditions, offering hope and relief to millions of suffering
patients worldwide.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9908309
- **Project number:** 1R43HL150944-01
- **Recipient organization:** NEUTROLIS, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Tobias Fuchs
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $209,500
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-06-01 → 2020-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9908309

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9908309, Targeting Neutrophil Extracellular Traps for Acute Lung Injury (1R43HL150944-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9908309. Licensed CC0.

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