A NEW GENERATION OF IMMUNOTHERAPIES
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia, or “BPD,” is a chronic lung disease in premature babies caused by both genetic and environmental factors. When babies are born prematurely before 36 weeks gestational age (GA) and placed in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), they often require supplemental oxygen which is frequently given through a mechanical ventilator that pushes air into their lungs. Though supplemental oxygen is necessary and lifesaving, it also causes inflammation in the underdeveloped, vulnerable lungs of premature babies, and over time causes damage that leads to the development of BPD.
AyuVis’ goal is to prevent and treat BPD by modulating the immune system to fight inflammation and infection with a small molecule immunotherapy.
It is estimated that more than 190,000 preterm babies <30 weeks gestational age (GA) are born every year at high-risk for BPD in developed countries. About 60,000 of these babies are born in the U.S. each year, and 10% of those are born in Texas. The risk for BPD increases the earlier and lower weight a preterm baby is born. In the U.S. each year, out of $16B excess medical costs for all preterm babies, almost 70% ($11B) of these excess medical costs account for very preterm babies that are at-risk for BPD (Barfield 2018).
There are no FDA-approved therapies to prevent or treat BPD and current off-label treatments are ineffective, creating a high unmet medical need for these babies.
Current Treatment
AVR-48 Treatment
Nevaeh's Story - Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Nevaeh is just one story of a preterm baby suffering from bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), but it is a story that matters. Watch our video below to hear her and her family's journey with this devastating lung disease.
Our goal is prevent BPD by fighting inflammation, preventing damage, and promoting growth in underdeveloped lungs with a new immunotherapy, to save and improve the lives of babies like Nevaeh. Will you join us in the fight to bring better and safer drugs to market for treating inflammation and infection?
Thank you to Teresa, Jaden, and the rest of Nevaeh's family for sharing her story. And thank you to the medical professionals that did their best with the available resources to help her.
Social Impact of BPD & Higher cost of life long complications
There is a high unmet need for preventing and treating BPD which would make a huge social impact by helping not only the babies, but helping the parents and families who are constantly juggling to balance the priorities of keeping jobs, feeding their family, paying hospital bills, and sustaining their own mental health.