Human Clinical Trials for Potential Anti-Asthma Drug to Begin

The AIM-quoted drug discovery company Verona Pharma plc has signed a contract to begin clinical trials in humans with RPL554, its potential ground-breaking drug for the treatment of asthma and allergic rhinitis (hay fever).

This marks a key milestone in the development of RPL554, which is expected to provide effective treatment for these respiratory diseases but without many of the side effects reported with most current drug treatments.

The trial will be conducted in the Netherlands at the Centre for Human Drug Research (CHDR) on obtaining the necessary ethical and regulatory approvals. Verona Pharma anticipates that the first subjects will receive RPL554 in November 2008 and the trial will be completed during the first half of 2009.

The trial will be a combined Phase I / Phase IIa clinical trial, designed to ascertain the safety of RPL554 and at the same time provide evidence of its clinical effectiveness in asthmatics and patients with allergic rhinitis. Verona Pharma expects the trial to establish RPL554's bronchodilator (opens airways), broncho-protective (protects against irritants that provoke asthma) and anti-inflammatory actions.

Chief Executive Dr Michael Walker said: "RPL554 targets common respiratory diseases that cost globally an estimated US$20 billion to treat. The commencement of this clinical trial will mark a major step in the development process for RPL554, a drug that could provide a significant improvement in the treatment of asthma and allergic rhinitis."

Success in the trial is expected to open up opportunities for partnerships and licensing by which RPL554 could be taken through the necessary further clinical development to commercialisation.
The initiation of the clinical trial follows the successful completion of earlier work in toxicology, safety pharmacology and pharmacology and formulation conducted at various scientific organisations and laboratories in Europe, the UK, Australia and Canada.

Alongside the RPL554 project, Verona Pharma has two on-going early-stage discovery and development programmes, involving work on the potential effectiveness of anti-inflammatory substances found in starfish for the treatment of respiratory diseases, and a treatment for coughing.

Press Release Reproduced With the Kind Permission of Professor Clive Page, Chairman, Verona Pharma plc

Page created: 29 September 2008