Respiratory

Longbio’s LP-003 meets phase III allergy endpoints

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

After raising HK$1.255 billion (US$160 million) in its IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange earlier this month, Longbio Pharma Co. Ltd.’s lead candidate, LP-003, met the primary endpoint of total nasal symptom scores during peak pollen season in moderate to severe seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Longbio’s LP-003 meets phase III allergy endpoints

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Innate immunity and microbiome allied against pulmonary fibrosis

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0400

The microbiome and a frontline innate antimicrobial sensor, Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5), play an essential role in the development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). A scientific collaboration led by researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has revealed how TLR5 protects against fibrosis through its ability to modulate the lung microbiome. Their study also shows that activating TLR5 protects against fibrosis and corrects pulmonary dysbiosis.

Longbio to raise HK$1.4B in Hong Kong IPO for immunology work

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Chinese biotech Longbio Pharma Co. Ltd. announced its IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to raise HK$1.362 billion (US$174 million) to progress its lead candidate, LP-003, a next-generation anti-IgE antibody.

TROP2 ADCs progress into first-line for lung, breast cancers

Thu, 28 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Multiple updates on TROP2-directed antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for lung and breast cancers highlight both progress made and opportunities for improvement for the targeted class of cancer therapeutics.

Longbio to raise HK$1.4B in Hong Kong IPO for immunology work

Thu, 28 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

TROP2 ADCs progress into first-line for lung, breast cancers

Thu, 28 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

New evidence links autoimmunity to long COVID symptoms

Thu, 28 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Recent findings are reshaping current understanding of the post-infection landscape of SARS-CoV-2. Although previous studies had already suggested that autoimmunity might underlie the persistent neurological symptoms seen in long COVID, researchers at Yale University and Mount Sinai now reinforce this hypothesis. SARS-CoV-2 infection appears to trigger an autoimmune mechanism that drives chronic pain, fatigue and cognitive impairment in some patients.

Newco news: Oorja energizes with $30M for IPF

Fri, 22 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Oorja Bio Inc., named after the phonetic spelling of “energy” in Sanskrit, secured $30 million from founding investor Westlake Biopartners in a series A financing round to advance its in-licensing approach to develop drugs for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and other fibrotic and cardiopulmonary diseases.

EMA poised to be 4th regulator approving Boehringer’s Jascayd lung drug

Fri, 22 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

As generic versions of its blockbuster drug Ofev (nintedanib) start to hit the market, Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH looks to have swerved the patent cliff, with European and Japanese regulators both approving a potential replacement, Jascayd (nerandomilast), this week. At its monthly meeting, the EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use also recommended Novartis AG’s Vijoice (alpelisib) be given conditional approval in the treatment of PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum disorders.

Infex has positive phase IIa data in bronchiectasis; preps for next trial

Thu, 21 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Infex Therapeutics Ltd. has published positive phase IIa data for its lead program, RESP-X, in the treatment of exacerbations of chronic respiratory infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and is now laying the ground for phase IIb development, after raising £4.3 million (US$5.8 million) in new capital.

Korro Bio nominates new candidate for AATD

Tue, 19 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Korro Bio Inc. has announced the selection of KRRO-111 as a development candidate for the treatment of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), a genetic disorder most commonly caused by a single missense mutation in SERPINA1.

HCW Biologics’ HCW11-040 prevents bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Fri, 15 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

HCW Biologics Inc.’s HCW11-040 has been shown in IND-enabling studies to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a rare pediatric disease affecting underweight premature infants.

Novel PROTAC degrader targeting SAMHD1 disclosed

Wed, 13 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Chinese researchers reported the discovery and preclinical characterization of a novel PROTAC degrader designed to target SAMHD1 and intended for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

APAC monitors hantavirus as Singapore isolates 2 from cruise ship

Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Singapore’s Communicable Diseases Agency on May 7 said that it isolated two residents for hantavirus testing after the individuals disembarked from an Atlantic cruise ship on May 2 and May 6, respectively. The measure comes in response to the cluster of cases from the cruise ship, MV Hondius, that has resulted in three deaths so far.

APAC monitors hantavirus as Singapore isolates 2 from cruise ship

Fri, 08 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

First measles treatment advances as vaccination rates drop

Thu, 07 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

Scientists at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology have identified and characterized human antibodies that neutralize the measles virus by blocking its entry into the cell. This is the first time that antibodies have been shown to bind effectively to two essential viral proteins, creating a dual blockade that prevents infection. Unlike the current vaccine, which is based on an attenuated virus and is not recommended for immunocompromised individuals, these monoclonal antibodies could be used both as a new vaccine approach and as a treatment for the entire population.

Agomab Therapeutics patents new TGFBR1 inhibitors

Tue, 05 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Agomab Therapeutics NV has identified new TGF-β receptor type-1 (TGFBR1; ALK5; SKR4; TβR-I) inhibitors designed for use in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Mists of Avalyn thicken with $300M IPO for inhaled drugs

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0400

The memory of Merck & Co. Inc.’s $10 billion takeover last year of inhaled respiratory drug specialist Verona Pharma plc may not have been far from the minds of Wall Street speculators as Avalyn Pharma Inc. priced its IPO, selling about 16.6 million shares at the high end of the targeted range, or $18 each, to reap about $300 million. The stock (NASDAQ:AVLN) came out of the gate strong on the first day of trading and closed April 30 at $29.49, up $11.49, or 64%.

Addex’s GABA-B PAM studied in IPF-related chronic cough model

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Addex Therapeutics Ltd. has released preclinical data demonstrating antitussive activity of its γ-aminobutyric acid subtype B receptor (GABA-B) positive allosteric modulator (PAM) candidate in a bleomycin-induced idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)-exacerbated chronic cough model.

Sun Pharma to acquire Merck spinoff Organon for $11.75B

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. will pay $11.75 billion cash to acquire Organon & Co. The transaction is expected to close in early 2027. The addition of Organon’s women’s health products, legacy drug brands and biosimilars are expected to boost Mumbai, India-based Sun’s global reach. The all-cash buy is also expected to relieve Jersey City, N.J.-based Organon of an $8.6 billion debt pile, accumulated after its debt-laden 2021 spinout from Merck & Co. Inc.

Sun Pharma to acquire Merck spinoff Organon for $11.75B

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Jiangsu Carephar Pharmaceutical describes new AT2 receptor agonists

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Jiangsu Carephar Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has patented angiotensin AT2 receptor (AGTR2) agonists reported to be useful for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Detecting the invisible: minimal residual disease at AACR 2026

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Minimal residual disease (MRD) has become a central concept in modern oncology, reshaping how clinicians evaluate response, relapse risk and treatment precision. As increasingly sensitive technologies reveal traces of cancer that persist after therapy, MRD is emerging as both a biological challenge and a clinical opportunity, especially as new data illuminate its complexity across hematologic and solid tumors. This topic was addressed at the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting.

FDA grants priority review to Merck-Daiichi’s B7-H3 cancer ADC

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0400

The U.S. FDA has accepted and granted priority review to Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd. and Merck & Co. Inc.’s BLA of ifinatamab deruxtecan, a B7-H3-directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) to treat patients with advanced extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer.

Remedy pushes ‘cell-free’ secretome therapy for IPF into phase I

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0400

“Single drugs targeting single biological pathways are insufficient for complex diseases,” Remedy Cell Ltd. CEO Ayelet Dilion Mashiah told BioWorld. Remedy is taking a secretome-based approach to treat lung disorders, having moved its lead asset, RC-0315, into a first-in-human clinical trial for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in January.

Addex’s GABA(B) PAM candidate shows antitussive activity in NHPs

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Addex Therapeutics Ltd. has announced findings from the evaluation of its γ-aminobutyric acid subtype B receptor (GABA[B]) positive allosteric modulator (PAM) in a nonhuman primate (NHP) model of chronic cough. In the study, the GABA(B) PAM drug candidate significantly reduced citric acid-induced cough frequency.

Ebenbuild’s tech for predicting lung drug deposition validated

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0400

The ability of Ebenbuild GmbH’s digital twin technology to predict the deposition of inhaled drugs across the lungs has been validated in a study published in Nature Communications Medicine. The platform, which combines AI-driven image analysis and physics-based computational modeling, demonstrated strong agreement with in vivo imaging data across multiple inhalation scenarios.

FDA grants priority review to Merck-Daiichi’s B7-H3 cancer ADC

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Cathepsin L inhibitor protects from ALI

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a severe inflammatory condition marked by disruption of the alveolar-capillary barrier and impaired gas exchange. Emerging evidence implicates cathepsin L as a key contributor to ALI pathogenesis through protease-mediated tissue damage and amplification of inflammatory responses. Researchers from Zhejiang University of Technology reported the development of a new cathepsin L inhibitor designed for the treatment of ALI.