We are thrilled to announce that COVend has been featured in a highly acclaimed Horizon magazine for our innovative and nature-inspired approach to treating acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The article, titled “Breathing easier – nature-inspired treatments could relieve acute respiratory distress”, highlights the potential of our project to provide unprecedented insights into ARDS.

The article discusses the challenges of providing effective treatment for acute respiratory distress, a condition that affects millions of people worldwide and has been especially prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic. With traditional treatments often falling short, researchers and scientists are turning to nature for inspiration. FX06 is a protein fragment naturally present in the human body which binds to the cells lining the blood vessels, helping to protect them. This is where COVend comes in. The project focuses on the research to use FX06 on mild and moderate ARDS cases, which can potentially reduce the mechanical cause of ARDS – when fluid from very small blood vessels leaks into surrounding tissue, including the alveoli. Our research team is currently recruiting around 260 patients in France, Germany, Lithuania, Romania and Spain with the results expected sometime in early to mid-2026.

The recognition from Horizon Europe magazine is a testament to the groundbreaking work being carried out by the COVend team. We are honored to be featured alongside other cutting-edge projects that are pushing the boundaries of healthcare innovation.