Synairgen has announced positive results from its ongoing collaboration with Pharmaxis to develop a lysyl oxidase type 2 (LOXL2) enzyme inhibitor as a treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
IPF results from the build-up of scar tissue, or fibrosis, in the lungs, which prevents normal uptake of oxygen. There are more than 100,000 IPF sufferers in the US alone.
The results of the experiments showed that the Pharmaxis enzyme inhibitors, by inhibiting LOXL2, could reduce cross-linking of collagen fibres — which results in fibrosis.
Synairgen will now focus on the pharmacology of the inhibitors and expects to progress one of them to phase one clinical trials in 2017.
Chief executive Richard Marsden said: “We are very pleased with the progress made with this collaboration and are excited by these results.
“We look forward to updating the markets with further progress over the coming months.”
