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NEWS!!  "Aerpio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announces funding to support a second clinical trial with Razuprotafib to prevent and treat Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) in moderate-to-severe COVID-19 patients as part of MTEC-20-09-COVID-19 Treatment Military Infectious Disease Research Program (MIDRP) Development of Treatments for COVID-19. This trial, together with the previously announced I-SPY COVID-19 trial, enables the assessment of the potential benefits of vascular stabilization with Razuprotafib in the full spectrum of patients hospitalized with COVID-19."

Aerpio Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on leveraging Tie2 activation for ocular disease and vascular stabilization.

Our lead product candidate, razuprotafib (AKB-9778), is a small molecule Tie2 activator being developed for the topical ocular treatment of primary open angle glaucoma. A Phase 2 trial in patients with open angle glaucoma/ocular hypertension is ongoing with top line data anticipated in Q4 2020.

The vascular stabilizing effects of subcutaneously administered razuprotafib are being investigated in two Phase 2 trials in patients with COIVD-19 (I-SPY-COVID-19 and RESCUE) which will read out in 2021.

The Company is also evaluating development options for subcutaneously administered razuprotafib and ARP- 1536, a humanized Tie2-activating monoclonal antibody, in the treatment of diabetic vascular complications including nephropathy.

ARP-1536 is also in preclinical development for intravitreal administration as an adjunct to anti-VEGF therapy in patients with sight threatening retinopathies i.e. diabetic macular edema (DME) and wet age-related macular degeneration (wetAMD).

The Company’s third asset is a bispecific antibody that is designed to inhibit VEGF and activate Tie2. This bispecific antibody has the potential to be an improved treatment for DME and wet age-related macular degeneration via intravitreal injection and cancer via systemic administration.

Finally, the Company has exclusively out-licensed AKB-4924 (now called GB004), a first-in-class orally bioavailable, gut targeted small molecule hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor. GB004 is being developed by AKB-4924’s exclusive licensor, Gossamer Bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOSS), in return for upfront payments totaling $35 million, future potential development, regulatory, and sales milestones of up to $90 million, and royalties on worldwide net sales.