PureTech Health said it will begin human trials on an experimental treatment for respiratory complications following recovery from COVID-19 infections.

The treatment, LYT-100 (deupirfenidone), is an analog of the pulmonary fibrosis treatment pirfenidone. It is designed to reduce, delay or prevent the lung dysfunction that has been documented in COVID-19 patients, including in those who have recovered.

The company began a phase 1 trial of the treatment in March, testing its safety and tolerability in healthy participants. It plans to begin further trials of the treatment in the third quarter of this year.