$heff's $tation of $tocks & $olid DD

[value1008]

WINT - up pre-mkt on good news, though not much volume has yet come in. This is a small Baker Bros. holding (255k shares), with other 'tutes holding even more shares (Sabby, Broadfin, Alyeska--see https://fintel.io/so/us/wint), so maybe this will be a runner today:

Windtree Therapeutics' Aerosolized KL4 Surfactant Reduces Lung Inflammation and Improves Survival in a High-Pathogen Avian Influenza Preclinical Study
[PR Newswire]
PR NewswireFebruary 16, 2017

WARRINGTON, Pa., Feb. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Windtree Therapeutics, Inc. (WINT), a biotechnology company focusing on developing aerosolized KL4 surfactant therapies for respiratory diseases, announced today that data from a preclinical influenza study showed that aerosolized KL4 surfactant reduced lung inflammation and improved overall survival in a well-established preclinical animal model. The Company believes that these preclinical data add to a growing body of evidence that supports the role of KL4 surfactant as a potential medical intervention to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with both seasonal and pandemic influenza pneumonia.

"While we remain focused on the rigorous and timely execution of the AEROSURF® phase 2 clinical program in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), we are encouraged by the results of this study in influenza as there is significant unmet need to protect the lungs in patients with severe influenza pneumonia," commented Craig Fraser, President and Chief Executive Officer. "A Phase I SBIR contract from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) provided us the opportunity to study the use of KL4 surfactant to reduce lung injury after exposure to a highly pathogenic influenza strain. We are grateful for the support provided by the NIH for this study as well as the previously announced preclinical study in the use of KL4 surfactant as a medical countermeasure to mitigate damage to lungs after radiation exposure. Windtree plans to seek additional funding from the NIH to support further exploration of aerosolized KL4 surfactant as a potential medical countermeasure for treating influenza-associated lung injury."

In this preclinical study, aerosolized KL4 surfactant was compared to treatment with a daily oral dose of an antiviral, oseltamivir, alone (Tamiflu®, Genentech) and placebo controls. Ferrets were evaluated for clinical signs of influenza infection and lung histopathology changes, after virus exposure. Preselected animals underwent histopathological evaluation of their lungs on Day 5, or if they were moribund; lungs of all surviving animals were also evaluated at Day 14.

Analysis from this study indicate that KL4 surfactant treatment substantially improved survival and reduced lung injury from influenza infection both at Day 5 and Day 14 based on a histopathologic evaluation of the lungs. KL4-surfactant treated animals showed an 80 percent survival that was the same as those receiving the oseltamivir. This is in comparison to controls where only a 20 percent survival was seen. The KL4 surfactant treatment group also showed fewer clinical signs of influenza when compared with animals receiving oseltamivir.

"Though this is an early proof-of-concept study of aerosolized KL4 surfactant for treatment of a lethal flu strain, these data are especially encouraging as the NIH has stated that there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic candidates that have the potential to prevent severe life-threatening complications of human influenza, improve patient outcomes, and provide more and better options for monotherapy and combination therapy with existing antivirals. These data represent progress toward a potentially effective and efficient therapeutic to prevent lung injury associated with influenza, particularly when highly lethal, pandemic strains are involved," said Dr. Robert Segal, Senior Vice-President, Clinical Development and Academic Affairs, Windtree Therapeutics. Dr. Segal, the study's principle investigator, conducted this research in collaboration with the Battelle Biomedical Research Center (BBRC), in West Jefferson, OH