On Jun. 2, 2020, Trevena announced it had entered into a collaboration with Imperial College London to evaluate the potential of TRV027, a novel AT1 receptor selective agonist, to treat acute lung injury contributing to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in COVID-19 patients.

ARDS is a major complication leading to mortality associated with COVID-19. Imperial College London sponsored and funded the study, with additional support through the British Heart Foundation Centre for Research Excellence Award.