MannKind and NRx Pharmaceuticals will work together on a possible inhaled dry powder aviptadil based on MannKind’s Technosphere particle technology, the companies have announced. MannKind said that it would conduct the feasibility study at its facility in Danbury, CT, USA. TFF Pharmaceuticals had previously announced that it was conducting a feasibility study to determine if NRx’s Zyesami aviptadil could be formulated as a dry powder using its thin film freezing technology.
NRx (formerly NeuroRx) initiated a Phase 2/3 trial of nebulized Zyesami aviptadil for the treatment of COVID-19 in February 2021 and also has an intravenous formulation in Phase 3 development. In April 2021, NRx and its partner Relief Therapeutics each announced problems with their collaboration, including issues around funding of that trial. Relief recently announced its acquisition of AdVita Lifescience, which is also developing a nebulized formulation of aviptadil.
MannKind CEO Michael Castagna said, “We are looking forward to the collaboration with NRx and looking for an avenue to marry the benefits of our Technosphere technology with Zyesami. Our focus is to continue to explore ways that our Technosphere technology can deliver unique compounds in a targeted and convenient manner for patients with serious lung diseases.”
NRx CEO and Chairman of the Board Jonathan Javitt commented, “As we continue to identify the beneficial effects of VIP in treating various respiratory disorders, development of a convenient dosing method that offers multi-year stability at room temperature is key to meeting the needs of patients. I had the privilege of working closely with Dr. Alfred Mann, on the refinement and regulatory approval of MannKind’s Technosphere platform and have long admired its simplicity and elegance. On many occasions he and I discussed his vision to extend Technosphere beyond insulin to solve the unique stability and administration challenges of peptide-based drugs. I am personally delighted to be partnering once again with MannKind and bringing Dr. Mann’s vision to life.”
Read the MannKind Corporation press release.
Read the NRx Pharmaceuticals press release.
