ZYESAMI (Aviptadil) Intermediate Population Expanded Access Protocol (SAMICARE)

5\. INTRODUCTION 5.1 Executive Summary ZYESAMI (aviptadil) is a synthetic form of Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide (VIP), a ubiquitous, naturally synthesized human peptide with extensively documented anti-inflammatory, anti-cytokine cascade properties. It has been granted FDA Fast Track Designation for treatment of Critical COVID-19 with Respiratory Failure. A phase 2/3 trial is underway that has passed its first evaluation at 30 patients for safety and futility. This expanded access protocol is designed to offer access to investigational use of RLF-100 to patients who do not qualify for inclusion in Protocol RLF-100-001 (NCT04311697) either on the basis of specific medical exclusions or because there is no accessible study site available to the prospective participant. 5.2 Definition of Critical COVID-19 In May 2020, FDA defined Critical COVID-19 to be used in clinical trials and disease staging as follows: Critical COVID-19 * Positive testing by standard RT-PCR assay or an equivalent test * Evidence of Respiratory Failure based on FDA definition of: need for Endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation, oxygen delivered by high-flow nasal cannula (heated, humidified, oxygen delivered via reinforced nasal cannula at flow rates \> 20 L/min with fraction of delivered oxygen ≥ 0.5), noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, ECMO, or clinical diagnosis of respiratory failure (i.e., clinical need for one of the preceding therapies, but preceding therapies not able to be administered in setting of resource limitation) Acute Lung Injury in COVID-19 is characterized by progressive failure of corporeal oxygenation, attributed on large part by SARS-CoV-2 infection of Alveolar Type II cells (Mason 2020). Extensive nonclinical studies document that 70% of VIP in the body binds to receptors on the Alveolar Type II cell, where VIP is known to block cytokine production and upregulate production of surfactant. Severity of COVID is associated with and graded by a progressively worsened state of oxygenation. This is seen in the PaO2/FIO2 ratio, which reflects the status of oxygenation for patients on high pressure oxygen and mechanical ventilation. In patients breathing room air, disease severity is assessed by SpO2. Many patients with Critical COVID meet the clinical definitions of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). However, there is increasing recognition that respiratory distress in COVID-19 has different characteristics than ARDS in the setting of bacterial sepsis and other common presentations of ARDS. The pathologic hallmark of COVID-19 lung injury is diffuse alveolar damage, vascular endothelium damage, and damage to the surfactant-producing type II cells which results in loss of the integrity of the alveolar-capillary barrier, transudation of protein-rich fluid across the barrier, pulmonary edema, and hypoxemia from intrapulmonary shunting. Typically, patients who have progressed to Critical COVID-19 require care in an intensive care unit (ICU). The mortality rate is approximately 50%. Deaths usually result from multisystem organ failure rather than lung failure alone. 5.3 ZYESAMI Experimental Therapy in COVID-19 Under this protocol, patients with Critical COVID-19 will be treated with ZYESAMI (Aviptadil) with the aim to support pulmonary alveolar function, combat the cytokine-induced inflammation, improve blood oxygenation, and reduce mortality. 5.4 Clinical Rationale Given by intravenous infusion in appropriate concentrations, ZYESAMI has been shown in clinical trials to have a manageable safety profile with no observed SAEs to date that would rise to the level of a black box warning. 6\. OBJECTIVES 6.1 Primary Objective The primary objective of this study is to measure the effectiveness and safety of ZYESAMI + maximal standard of care (SOC) in treating Critical COVID-19 with Respiratory Failure. 6.2 Secondary Objective The key secondary objective is to test the hypothesis that ZYESAMI improves blood oxygenation as measured by SaO2.