Genoa Pharmaceuticals has announced that studies conducted in conjunction with McMaster University have shown that peak pirfenidone activity can be achieved by lung levels of the drug that remain for only a short period of time. Genoa previously announced that its GP-101 inhaled pirfenidone demonstrated greater anti-fibrotic effects with smaller doses than oral pirfenidone in a preclinical study.
The company also says that it is preparing a manuscript describing how “characterization of the pirfenidone mechanism suggests that the drug inhibits a single, upstream pro-fibrotic target with strong influence on downstream pathways critical for IPF initiation and disease progression.”
Genoa President and CEO Mark Surber commented, “These results further support inhalation as the optimal method to administer pirfenidone to achieve maximum IPF efficacy in a safe and well-tolerated medicine. In addition to laying the foundation for successful GP-101 clinical design, these collaborative studies have also expanded our understanding of IPF disease progression and identified a family of additional therapeutic targets.”
Martin Kolb, Associate Professor in the Division of Respirology of McMaster University, added that “Discovery that pirfenidone may inhibit a particular IPF target shown to influence several downstream pathways is important for it may explain some of pirfenidone’s effect; showing that inhalation enables improved activity against this important target further justifies this therapeutic approach. We are excited to continue our productive collaboration with Genoa, and with these results enter these activities with an increased enthusiasm for GP-101’s potential to positively impact the lives of people with this devastating disease.”
Read the Genoa Pharmaceuticals press release.
