Two Drug Candidates Show Promise as Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Treatments

Two novel pharmaceuticals, TXR-1002 and TXR-1007, demonstrated positive, significant efficacy in decreasing fibrosis within affected lung tissue in mouse models with bleomycin-induced idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), compared to standard treatment using nintedanib. The mice with IPF showed a decreased amount of lung collagen staining, reflecting less scar tissue build-up.

The researchers also investigated the safety of these 2 drug candidates. Dosage measured using body weight demonstrated good tolerability in preclinical studies.

Aria Pharmaceuticals developed TXR-1002 and TXR-1007 more rapidly than traditional drug discovery processes. The researchers completed predictions and performed in vivo testing that obtained results within 12 weeks.

Anjali Pandey, PhD, senior vice president of nonclinical research and development and chemistry at Aria, remarked, “The in vivo data for TXR-1002 and TXR-1007 provide a strong rationale for advancing these promising [drug] candidates for the potential treatment of IPF.”

Read more about IPF therapies

Aria announced the complete results of these preclinical studies at the IPF Summit on August 26, 2021.

Currently, more than 3 million individuals globally are diagnosed with IPF. While the cause of IPF is unknown, its prevalence is increasing.

Individuals with IPF do not have treatment options that stop or reverse the progression of the chronic lung disease. Existing treatments only slow the irreversible progression, and they carry a high risk of on-target adverse effects that may impact patient compliance and continuation of treatment.

“Aria is committed to advancing TXR-1002 and TXR-1007 and is continuing to research both promising therapies as potential novel treatments for IPF,” the company stated in a press release. 

Reference

Aria Pharmaceuticals presents positive in vivo data showing two novel treatment candidates demonstrated positive efficacy and tolerability in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis compared to standard of care. News release. Aria Pharmaceuticals; August 26, 2021.