Drug Discovery and Development

  • Home Drug Discovery and Development
  • Drug Discovery
  • Women in Pharma and Biotech
  • Oncology
  • Neurological Disease
  • Infectious Disease
  • Resources
    • Video features
    • Podcast
    • Webinars
  • Pharma 50
    • 2025 Pharma 50
    • 2024 Pharma 50
    • 2023 Pharma 50
    • 2022 Pharma 50
    • 2021 Pharma 50
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE

Mast Therapeutics Initiates Clinical Study of AIR001 for Treating Chronic Infection in CF Patients

By Drug Discovery Trends Editor | March 15, 2017

Mast Therapeutics reported that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Aires Pharmaceuticals, Inc., has entered into an agreement with the University of Pittsburgh related to a Phase 1/2 open-label safety and proof of concept clinical trial of the Company’s lead product candidate, AIR001, for the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. The study is being conducted by the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Mast’s subsidiary will provide study drug and nebulizers for the study, but no direct financial support.

“We are excited that CF experts at University of Pittsburgh wish to study the therapeutic potential of AIR001 in this patient population,” stated Brian M. Culley, Chief Executive Officer of Mast Therapeutics, Inc. “We believe this initiative opens an entirely new area of potential clinical and commercial opportunity for AIR001 and enjoys synergy with the pipeline of our anticipated reverse merger partner, Savara Inc.”

“AIR001 may represent a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of chronic infection in CF patients because it has demonstrated broad in vitro antimicrobial activity against P. aeruginosa and other airway pathogens,” stated Edwin L. Parsley, D.O., Chief Medical Officer of Mast Therapeutics, Inc. “The antimicrobial activity of nitrite increases under anaerobic and acidotic conditions such as those found in the CF airways, and in non-clinical studies, AIR001 has been shown to prevent P. aeruginosa biotic biofilm growth on the surface of primary CF airway cells,” continued Dr. Parsley.  

The objective of the open-label Phase 1/2 study is to determine the safety of AIR001, a sterile, proprietary sodium nitrite solution for intermittent inhalation, administered in a dose escalation manner to adults with CF and P. aeruginosa airway infection. The study also aims to explore the effects of AIR001 on measures of lung function, exhaled airway nitric oxide, and bacterial density. Under the agreement with the University of Pittsburgh, the Company has rights to use the de-identified data and study results for potential regulatory submissions.


Filed Under: Drug Discovery

 

Related Articles Read More >

Lokavant’s Spectrum v15 uses AI to cut trial-feasibility modeling from weeks to minutes
Prime time for peptide-based drug discovery 
Why smaller, simpler molecular glues are gaining attention in drug discovery
Glass vial, pipette and woman scientist in laboratory for medical study, research or experiment. Test tube, dropper and professional female person with chemical liquid for pharmaceutical innovation
Unlocking ‘bench-to-bedside’ discoveries requires better data sharing and collaboration
“ddd
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest news and trends happening now in the drug discovery and development industry.

MEDTECH 100 INDEX

Medtech 100 logo
Market Summary > Current Price
The MedTech 100 is a financial index calculated using the BIG100 companies covered in Medical Design and Outsourcing.
Drug Discovery and Development
  • MassDevice
  • DeviceTalks
  • Medtech100 Index
  • Medical Design Sourcing
  • Medical Design & Outsourcing
  • Medical Tubing + Extrusion
  • Subscribe to our E-Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • R&D World
  • Drug Delivery Business News
  • Pharmaceutical Processing World

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Drug Discovery & Development

  • Home Drug Discovery and Development
  • Drug Discovery
  • Women in Pharma and Biotech
  • Oncology
  • Neurological Disease
  • Infectious Disease
  • Resources
    • Video features
    • Podcast
    • Webinars
  • Pharma 50
    • 2025 Pharma 50
    • 2024 Pharma 50
    • 2023 Pharma 50
    • 2022 Pharma 50
    • 2021 Pharma 50
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE