Gilead Sciences Inc. and Leo Pharma A/S have established a strategic partnership to accelerate the development and commercialization of Leo’s small-molecule oral STAT6 programs for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Windward Bio AG was established with plans to both license a drug and establish wet labs to create an internal pipeline of drug candidates. SR One, Omega Funds, RTW Investments, Qiming Venture Partners, Quan Capital and Pivotal Bioventure Partners funded the Basel, Switzerland-based company’s $200 million series A financing round.
Deepcure Inc. has discovered potent, selective oral small-molecule inhibitors of STAT6. These next-generation STAT6 inhibitors have demonstrated promising oral bioavailability, cell permeability and metabolic stability, and do not target STAT6 for degradation.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and is characterized by an abnormal inflammatory reaction of the lungs to inhaled particles, such as cigarette smoke. On the other hand, the transcription factor interferon responsive factors (IRFs) are key elements in the production of type I and III interferons. A group of researchers in Italy looked into the relationship between interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) and COPD outcomes.
The U.S. FDA granted approval of Verona Pharma plc’s ensifentrine on its PDUFA date of June 26, giving the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) community its first new mechanistic option in a decade. The drug, branded Ohtuvayre, is also the first inhaled nonsteroidal therapy to treat a respiratory disease that combines both a bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory mechanism into one molecule. It is indicated for the maintenance treatment of COPD, which Verona said allows for broad use.
Alternative splicing is known to play an important role in tissue development. Scientists at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have looked into the association between a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) genetic variant and cell-specific splicing of putative ciliary rootlet coiled-coil protein-like 1 protein (CROCCP2).
The U.K. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has posted an early value assessment review of digital technologies for the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, giving the conditional nod to only one technology — the Mycopd app by London-based My Mhealth Ltd.
In what represents its first patenting, Halifax, Nova Scotia-based Hollo Medical Inc. seeks protection for its product that is designed for inhaler users who are frustrated with cumbersome valved holding chambers and desire something more compact and portable.
Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA presented data for novel lung-targeted muscarinic M3 receptor antagonists/β2-adrenoceptor agonists (MABAs) as candidates for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
