The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation awarded up to $3.5 million to Arrevus Inc. to test a potential treatment for pulmonary exacerbations in people with cystic fibrosis in a late phase clinical trial. Pulmonary exacerbations are a sudden worsening of respiratory symptoms caused by lung infections that often require IV antibiotic treatment.

Arrevus’ potential treatment, ACG-701, is the company’s own version of sodium fusidate. It is a compound that is used to treat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a cause of some CF lung infections, and may also decrease inflammation and mucus production. Sodium fusidate has been used in Europe, but it has never been approved in the U.S. Arrevus’ potential treatment comes in oral tablet form. The study is planned to begin in 2022.

Arrevus is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aceragen.