The COPD Foundation has partnered with Renovion on development of Renovion’s ARINA-1 nebulized glutathione / bicarbonate / ascorbic acid for the treatment of COPD and non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, the foundation said. ARINA-1, which is delivered via the PARI eFlow nebulizer system, received orphan drug designation from the FDA for the treatment of lung dysfunction following lung transplant in 2017. In June 2020, Renovion announced that it had raised $8.1 million in Series A financing to support development of ARINA-1.
According to the announcement, the two organizations plan to accelerate development of the inhaled mucolytic by “leveraging the foundational research in bronchiectasis registries and COPD studies” to identify “groups that demonstrate a need for therapies that target airway mucus plugging.” Renovion had previously said that it expected to begin Phase 2/3 development in early 2021; now it expects to begin Phase 2 trials in the first quarter of 2022.
COPD Foundation President and Chief Scientific Officer Ruth Tal-Singer commented, “Through our ongoing communication with patients, mucus production (commonly referred to as chronic bronchitis) is reported as one of the key challenges facing COPD and bronchiectasis patients as they deal with these diseases on a daily basis. We are partnering with Renovion to accelerate the clinical programs for ARINA-1 in both COPD and bronchiectasis by tapping into the Foundation’s global community of patient advocates and scientific and clinical development experts.”
Renovion CEO Dan Copeland said, “This partnership demonstrates our shared commitment to develop a life-changing therapy for millions of people around the world who suffer from COPD and bronchiectasis. The development collaboration will propel Phase 2 efforts in both COPD and bronchiectasis. Finding the right patient target for clinical trials is a primary challenge of drug development today, and this is especially true in the COPD and bronchiectasis patient populations. This partnership will enable an unparalleled focus on a subset of individuals suffering from mucus and chronic inflammation in their lungs.”
Read the COPD Foundation and Renovion press release.
