Study to Assess the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Inhaled APN01 Developed as Treatment for COVID-19

APN01 is a soluble recombinant form of the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (rhACE2) that is currently under development as a therapy for corona-virus-disease 2019 (COVID-19). By effectively mimicking ACE2 within the body, APN01 is designed to block the SARS-CoV-2 from binding to the ACE2 receptor and infecting cells while at the same time downregulating the renin-aldosterone-angiotensin system (RAAS) to help prevent inflammation and organ injury - critical components involved in the cytokine storm response. ACE2 is the key entry receptor for the SARS-CoV-2. Competitive binding by exogenous angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) may block viral entry, thereby decreasing viral replication in ACE2 expressing organs and protecting the lungs and distal organs from injury induced by SARS-CoV-2.

APN01 has been developed as an IV agent to treat acute lung injury and pulmonary arterial hypertension, and moderate to severe COVID-19 infection. Encouraged by the favorable safety profile of IV APN01, we have developed the nebulized APN01 formulation to deliver the drug directly to the respiratory tract, where the virus is mainly found, decreasing systemic exposure and increasing local pulmonary concentration. APN01 intravenously and as inhalation in preclinical studies has been well tolerated with no overall difference in clinical studies from placebo in human trials to date.

This study will investigate nebulized APN01 safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and immunogenicity before stepping forward in proof-of-concept studies in patients with COVID-19.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Healthy males and females between 18 to 55 years of age, inclusive, at the screening visit.
2. Subject voluntarily agrees to participate in this study and signs an Ethics Committee approved informed consent prior to performing any of the screening visit procedures.
3. Subject is able to understand and is willing to comply with all study requirements, and willing to follow the instructions of the study staff.
4. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test, should not be breastfeeding, and must be willing to use highly effective methods of contraception for at least 1 month before, while participating in this study and until 1 month after the end of the treatment. The following terms of contraception apply:

   4.1. Total abstinence (when this is in line with the preferred and usual lifestyle of the participant). Periodic abstinence (e.g., calendar, ovulation, symptothermal, post-ovulation methods) and withdrawal are not acceptable methods of contraception.

   4.2. Female sterilization (have had surgical bilateral oophorectomy with or without hysterectomy), total hysterectomy, or tubal ligation at least 6 weeks before taking study intervention. In case of oophorectomy alone, only when the reproductive status of the woman has been confirmed by follow-up hormone level assessment.

   4.3. Sterilization of male partner (at least 6 months prior to Screening) with post-procedural semen specimen to verify a successful procedure (the report of the male partner will not be collected since the partner is not study participant). For female participants on the study, the vasectomized male partner should be the sole partner for that participant.

   4.4. Placement of an intrauterine device or intrauterine system, or other forms of non-hormonal contraception that have comparable efficacy (failure rate \<1%).

   4.5. Women who are postmenopausal are not required to use contraception. A postmenopausal state is defined as no menses for 12 months without an alternative medical cause. A high follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level in the postmenopausal range (FSH \> 40 U/ml at Screening) must be used to confirm a postmenopausal state.
5. Male subject must agree to stay abstinent or must use together with his female partner(s) use a form of highly effective contraceptive from the time of signing the informed consent form (ICF) until up to 3 months after receiving the study drug.
6. Nonsmokers (and/or no use of other nicotine products during 1 year before screening visit).
7. Body mass index (BMI) between 18.0 and 32.0 kg/m2, inclusive, at the screening visit.
8. Healthy with no clinically significant findings, determined by medical evaluation (medical history, physical examination, vital signs, 12-lead ECG, and clinical laboratory evaluations) at Screening.
9. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) ≥80%.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Female subjects who are breastfeeding or female subjects with a positive pregnancy test at the screening visit or admission.
2. Study participant has a history of an anaphylactic reaction to study drug or components thereof or a history of drug or other allergy that, in the opinion of the Investigator or Medical Monitor, contraindicates their participation.
3. Subject has used an investigational drug within 30 days (or 5 half-lives whichever is longer) prior to the first dose of study drug.
4. Subject is on any regular (more than 4 days a week) prescription or nonprescription over the counter medication, topical medications, vitamins, dietary or herbal (occasional use of acetaminophen, paracetamol or ibuprofen allowed).
5. Subject has positive urine test for drugs of abuse at the screening visit or admission.
6. Regular consumption of alcohol within 6 months prior to Screening (\> 7 drinks/week for females, \> 14 drinks/week for males where 1 drink = 5 ounces \[150 ml\] of wine or 12 ounces \[360 ml\] of beer or 1.5 ounces \[45 ml\] of hard liquor), or use of illicit substances (such as marijuana) within 3 months prior to the screening visit.
7. Subject has positive test for SARS-CoV-2 antigen or real-time RT-PCR, HBsAg, anti-HBc antibodies, HCV antibody, and/or HIV antibody at screening visit.
8. Donation or loss of 450 ml or more of blood within 4 weeks or 250 ml of plasma within 4 weeks prior to initial dosing.
9. Subject has a history or current evidence of a serious and/or unstable cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, hematologic, autoimmune, mental or other medical disorder, including cirrhosis or malignancy.
10. Subject has a history of a psychiatric disorder that will affect the subject's ability to participate in the study as determined by the Investigator.
11. Subject has a clinically relevant abnormal ECG.
12. Subject has clinically relevant abnormal laboratory values at the discretion of the Investigator.
13. Subject has hypertension with a mean systolic BP \>150 mmHg or mean diastolic BP \>100 mm Hg. Screening and admission tests may be repeated once if abnormal.
14. Subject has acute, clinically significant illness within 30 days prior to admission, or any other condition or prior therapy that, in the opinion of the Investigator, would make the subject unsuitable for the study.
15. Subject is an employee of the clinical research team (any APEIRON Biologics AG or study center employee).
16. Subject is unable to understand the protocol requirements, instructions, study-related restrictions, nature, scope and possible consequences of the clinical study. Subject is unlikely to comply with the protocol requirements, instructions and study-related restrictions, e.g., uncooperative attitude, inability to return for follow-up visits and improbability of completing the clinical study.
17. Subject judged inappropriate as participant for the study by the Investigator for other reasons.
18. Any signs of respiratory tract infection within 6 weeks of screening.
19. Subject previously diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia.
20. Presence of acute infection in the preceding 14 days, or presence of fever (\> 37.9°C oral or tympanic temperature assessment), or acute symptoms of any severity on the scheduled date of admission.
21. Subject who has a current bacterial, parasitic, fungal, or viral infection; any infection requiring hospitalization or intravenous antibiotics within 6 weeks prior to Screening.
22. Subject has any pathological condition of the oro-laryngeal or respiratory tract that hinders use of nebulizer.
23. Any of the following laboratory abnormalities:

    White blood cells, hemoglobin, platelets, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ±15% outside of normal limits. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), urea and creatinine above 15% outside of normal limits.
24. Subject has received or plans to receive a coronavirus vaccine, or any other vaccine, within 7 days prior to the first dose of study drug or during the study.