San Diego, Calif.-based Histogen has teamed up with Fairfax, Va.-based research laboratory Amerimmune to evaluate Histogen’s investigational drug emricasan for the treatment of mild COVID-19 infections.

Histogen, formerly Conatus Pharma, will retain ownership of emricasan while Amerimmune will provide funding and lead the drug’s development for the treatment of COVID-19. The partners hope to begin a phase 1 study by year’s end.

Emricasan was developed for the treatment of liver disease and it has received a Fast-Track designation from the FDA for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis cirrhosis.