Verona Pharmaceuticals has treated its first patient in a Phase II clinical trial for its lead respiratory drug, RPL554.
The trial is designed to determine whether RPL554 has continued bronchodilator actions and is safe when given daily to mildly asthmatic patients.
This study into whether RPL554’s bronchodilator actions can be safely sustained over several days of treatment extends the company’s knowledge of the drug and is the third trial with RPL554 in patients with allergic asthma. The second trial established the effectiveness of higher doses of the drug.
The key measurement that will be performed in the trial is the standard measure of FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 sec) to test the effect of RPL554 on lung function. Cardiovascular safety and gastrointestinal tolerance will also be assessed. The drug will be given in the same nebulized form as in the previous clinical trials.
The RPL554 compound is a novel long acting bronchodilator/anti-inflammatory drug belonging to a class of drugs known as a mixed phosphodiesterase (PDE) 3/4 inhibitor. Verona is investigating its use for the treatment of respiratory diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and allergic rhinitis (hay fever).
This trial is a necessary preliminary trial prior to performing a complete and thorough assessment of the anti-inflammatory actions of the drug in terms of reducing the effects of allergen challenge in patients with allergic asthma.
This allergen challenge trial is scheduled for later in 2011.
Release Date: May 12, 2011
Source: Verona Pharma
Filed Under: Drug Discovery
