12 April 2011 - London, UK - Verona Pharma plc (AIM: VRP.L), the biotechnology company focused on discovering new drugs for the treatment of chronic respiratory diseases, has commenced a new trial with its lead respiratory drug, RPL554, in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
This Phase II trial is taking place at University of Tor Vergata in Rome, and is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of RPL554 in patients with mild to moderate forms of COPD. The trial is being performed as an open label trial to observe the bronchodilator effects of the drug in COPD patients. Such patients often have concomitant cardiovascular disease and are older and thus at a greater risk of potential adverse effects than were the younger asthmatic patients who were studied in the previous two reported trials of RPL554 carried out at the Centre for Human Drug Research (CHDR) in The Netherlands.
The measurements of interest in the trial are the standard measure of FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 sec) to test the effect of RPL554 on lung function, and blood pressure and electrocardiography (ECG) to test the safety of the drug in this patient group. The drug will be given in a nebulized form as was the case in the previous trials.
RPL554 is a novel long acting inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 3 and phosphodiesterase 4, two enzymes known to be of importance in a range of inflammatory respiratory diseases, and RPL554 is a drug that has been shown experimentally to have both anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator actions. The bronchodilator actions have been shown repeatedly in the previous CHDR trials referred to above.
Professor Michael Walker, CEO of Verona Pharma said: “COPD is an obvious disease target for RPL554’s bronchodilator and potential anti-inflammatory actions. COPD is increasingly prevalent throughout the world and existing drugs fail to provide effective treatment for the disease. We are extending our clinical trials of RPL554 to include COPD since its mechanism of action is directly applicable to this disease. Positive results from this trial are expected to add therapeutic and financial value to RPL554.”
About Verona Pharma plc
Verona Pharma plc is a biotechnology company dedicated to discovering new drugs for the treatment of chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cough. The Company has three potential drug treatments under development aimed at the respiratory and inflammatory diseases markets: RPL554, Verona’s lead product in Phase II, Cough (anti-tussive), and novel anti-inflammatory polysaccharides (NAIPs) for the treatment of a wide range of respiratory and inflammatory diseases.
RPL554
RPL554 is Verona Pharma’s lead drug compound which is a long acting bronchodilator/anti-inflammatory drug (belonging to a class of drugs known as a mixed phosphodiesterase (PDE) 3/4 inhibitor) for the treatment of allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and potentially asthma. In September 2009, the Company completed a Phase I/IIa clinical trial of the drug which showed clear clinical benefits in patients with asthma and allergic rhinitis. The Company is carrying out further clinical trials of the drug to provide additional clinical data and to take the drug through to the next development stage. The Company is simultaneously seeking licensing agreements or partnerships for the further development and commercialisation of the drug.
For more information please contact:
Verona Pharma plc
Clive Page, Chairman
Michael Walker, CEO
Tel: 020 7863 3300
Evolution Securities Limited
Bobbie Hilliam/ Tim Redfern / Esther Lee
Tel: 020 7071 4300
College Hill
Melanie Toyne Sewell / Gemma Howe
verona@collegehill.com
Tel: 020 7457 2020
