Respiratory

APAC monitors hantavirus as Singapore isolates 2 from cruise ship

Fri, 08 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.

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

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.

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

Wed, 15 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. Secretomes refer to the collection of bioactive molecules secreted by cells in the extracellular space, including proteins, enzymes, growth factors and extracellular vesicles such as exosomes.

New LPAR1 antagonists reported in Haisco patent

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Haisco Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. has disclosed new lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 (LPAR1; EDG2) antagonists reported to be useful for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

LCC-6 characterized as an antifibrotic and copper chelator agent

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

Copper overload within the body may lead to cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation or fibrosis, among others. Copper chelation is an effective strategy to counteract this potential overload; mitochondria play an important role, as they are the main copper-using organelles in the cells. Copper chelators have been developed, but they have shown some undesired off-target effects and low specificity, which suggests the need for new therapies in the field.

United’s Tyvaso nails endpoints in second phase III IPF trial

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0400

United Therapeutics Corp. is eyeing a possible priority review in its anticipated supplemental NDA for Tyvaso (treprostinil) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) after the second phase III trial hit its endpoints, even besting the impressive findings from the first phase III study reported last year, and positioning United for a substantial commercial launch in 2027.

Pinnacle raises an $89M series B for its oral peptide programs

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Pinnacle Medicines Inc. secured $89 million in a series B financing, bringing the total raised by the company to $134 million. The round was co-led by LAV and Foresite Capital.

Pinnacle raises an $89M series B for its oral peptide programs

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Pinnacle Medicines Inc. secured $89 million in a series B financing, bringing the total raised by the company to $134 million. The round was co-led by LAV and Foresite Capital.

Multibody TEV‘325 achieves preclinical milestone

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Biolojic Design Ltd. has earned an additional milestone payment from its collaboration partner, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., for TEV‘325 (TEV-56308, formerly BD-9), a multibody targeting IL-13 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) for autoimmune disease

circPTK2 unveiled as a driver of pulmonary fibrosis

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a fatal lung disease characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix proteins in the lung interstitium due to excessive fibroblast activation, which leads to tissue scarring and potential respiratory failure. Chinese researchers have published results of their investigations into circular RNAs and the pathogenesis of PF.

CSPC Zhongqi Pharmaceutical Technology synthesizes PDE4B2 inhibitors

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

CSPC Zhongqi Pharmaceutical Technology (Shijiazhuang) Co. Ltd. has disclosed crystalline forms of phosphodiesterase PDE4B2 inhibitors. They are reported to be useful for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung diseases and asthma.

CF Pharmtech’s ICF-001 cleared for clinic in China

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

CF Pharmtech Inc. has announced IND approval by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for ICF-001, a long-acting inhalation powder candidate for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension and related severe pulmonary diseases.

Enanta Pharmaceuticals presents data for KIT inhibitor EDP-978

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

The activation of mast cells in the lungs and skin is involved in diseases such as asthma and chronic spontaneous urticaria, where the KIT receptor tyrosine kinase is a key regulator of mast cell function.

Baseimmune expands into fibrosis

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Baseimmune Ltd. has announced its strategic expansion into fibrosis, with a new fibrosis-focused pipeline led by a program for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Korean ARPA-H to invest ₩162B in nine projects in 2026

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0400

The K-health MIRAE Initiative, also known as Korean ARPA-H, announced plans to allocate about ₩162 billion (US$110 million) in nine new projects over the next five years, with a focus on strengthening national health security.

Korean ARPA-H to invest ₩162B in nine projects in 2026

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0500

Potent and selective inhaled PDE4 inhibitor for COPD therapy

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0500

Researchers at Shenyang Pharmaceutical University reported the discovery and preclinical evaluation of a PDE4 inhibitor as a potential treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.