VERO Biotech Announces First Patient With COVID-19 Infection Complicating Pulmonary Hypertension Treated with GENOSYL® DS, the First and Only FDA-Approved Tankless System for the Delivery of Inhaled Nitric Oxide

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Treatment informs FDA approval for emergency expanded access use for GENOSYL® inhaled nitric oxide

GENOSYL® DS facilitates homebound use of inhaled nitric oxide in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension in patients with COVID-19 infection

March 24, 2020, – VERO Biotech LLC, an Atlanta, Georgia-based biotechnology company focused on saving lives, alleviating suffering, and improving the health economics of care, today announced that the first patient with COVID-19 infection complicating pulmonary hypertension has been treated with its proprietary inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) delivery system, GENOSYL® DS at home. The patient was treated under an emergency IND filed by a qualified Investigator and approved by the US FDA.

“Treating patients at home with a tankless system to deliver iNO represents a new paradigm in the management of pulmonary hypertension,” said Michael Gentile, RRT and Vice President of Medical Affairs, VERO Biotech.

The patient was also treated with oxygen via nasal canula and was carefully monitored remotely by clinicians, avoiding hospitalization and more intensive respiratory support.

“Application of VERO’s tankless inhaled nitric oxide system at home under physician supervision is particularly critical during a time of crisis when hospital beds and ventilators are in short supply,” said Brent V. Furse, President and CEO, VERO Biotech.

GENOSYL is indicated to improve oxygenation and reduce the need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in term and near-term (>34 weeks gestation) neonates with hypoxic respiratory failure associated with clinical or echocardiographic evidence of pulmonary hypertension in conjunction with ventilatory support and other appropriate agents.

GENOSYL is contraindicated in the treatment of neonates dependent on right-to-left shunting of blood. (See below for additional Important Safety Information.)

VERO Biotech‘s GENOSYL Delivery System (DS) is a compact and user-friendly nitric oxide delivery system that will enable hospitals to reduce logistical burden as compared to the cumbersome tank-based systems currently available.

About Inhaled Nitric Oxide

Nitric oxide is a powerful molecule proven to play a critical role in a broad array of biological functions. In the airways, nitric oxide targets the vascular smooth muscle cells that surround the small resistance arteries in the lungs and is used in adult respiratory distress syndrome and persistent pulmonary hypertension of the neonate. Additionally, nitric oxide is believed to play a key role in the innate immune system and in vitro studies suggest that it possesses antimicrobial activity not only against common bacteria, including both gram-positive and gramnegative, but also against other diverse organisms, including viruses, mycobacteria, fungi, yeast, and parasites.

Prior to the approval of the GENOSYL system, the only way to provide iNO was via large, pressurized gas cylinders and complicated delivery systems.

About GENOSYL

Indication

GENOSYL (nitric oxide) gas, for inhalation, is indicated to improve oxygenation and reduce the need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in term and near-term (>34 weeks gestation) neonates with hypoxic respiratory failure associated with clinical or echocardiographic evidence of pulmonary hypertension in conjunction with ventilatory support and other appropriate agents.

Important Safety Information
  • GENOSYL is contraindicated in the treatment of neonates dependent on right-to-left shunting of blood.
  • Abrupt discontinuation of GENOSYL (nitric oxide) gas, for inhalation may lead to worsening oxygenation and increasing pulmonary artery pressure.
  • Methemoglobin levels in the blood increase with the dose of nitric oxide; following discontinuation or reduction of nitric oxide, methemoglobin levels return to baseline over a period of hours.
  • Methemoglobin, NO2, and PaO2 should be monitored during nitric oxide administration.
  • In patients with pre-existing left ventricular dysfunction, GENOSYL may increase pulmonary capillary wedge pressure leading to pulmonary edema.
  • The most common adverse reaction is hypotension.
  • Nitric oxide donor compounds may have an additive effect with GENOSYL on the risk of developing methemoglobinemia.
  • GENOSYL must be administered using a calibrated GENOSYL Delivery System. Only validated ventilator systems should be used in conjunction with GENOSYL.

About GENOSYL DS

GENOSYL DS is VERO Biotech‘s lead product specifically designed for the hospital intensive care setting. This proprietary delivery system eliminates the need for large nitric oxide tanks and the associated logistical burden. GENOSYL DS is a tankless and portable system engineered with failsafe, redundant backup features, which delivers a constant concentration of inhaled nitric oxide gas to patients and the easy-to-use interface and portability features.

About VERO Biotech LLC

VERO Biotech LLC (formerly known as GeNO LLC) is a biotechnology company focused on the design, development, and commercialization of next-generation products to address the unmet medical needs of patients with a variety of pulmonary and cardiac diseases.

VERO Biotech LLC is dedicated to improving the lives of patients by leading the development of innovative technologies for inhaled nitric oxide delivery in the acute care hospital setting and beyond, wherever inhaled nitric oxide treatment is needed.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release and any statements of representatives of VERO Biotech LLC related thereto that are not historical in nature contain, or may contain, among other things, certain “forwardlooking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to VERO Biotech’s plans, objectives, projections, expectations and intentions and other statements identified by words such as “projects,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “seeks,” “intends,” “plans,” “potential” or similar expressions, including statements with respect to the potential effects of its products and plans to assess and undertake next steps for VERO Biotech LLC. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of VERO Biotech’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ significantly from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various risk factors (many of which are beyond VERO Biotech’s control).

 

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