Transpire Bio Secures Rights to Inhaled PDE4 Inhibitor for Lung Disease

Transpire Bio, a Florida-based pharmaceutical company, has made a significant move in the respiratory disease space by licensing an inhaled PDE4 inhibitor from China's Intragrand Pharma. The drug, known as lenamilast or ITG-1052, is being developed as a potential treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a condition that has seen recent advancements from other major players in the industry.

Strategic Licensing Deal

The agreement grants Transpire Bio the rights to develop and commercialize lenamilast outside of China. While financial details of the deal were not disclosed, the move represents a strategic expansion of Transpire's respiratory disease portfolio. Xian-Ming Zeng, Ph.D., CEO of Transpire Bio, emphasized the importance of this acquisition, stating, "Utilizing business development, we are able to augment and complement our robust pipeline of inhaled therapeutics."

Intragrand Pharma's CEO, Joseph Zhu, expressed confidence in the partnership, highlighting Transpire's "unparalleled leadership and expertise in the development and commercialization of inhaled therapeutics."

PDE4 Inhibition: A Promising Approach

The licensing of lenamilast puts Transpire Bio in direct competition with industry giant Boehringer Ingelheim, which has been developing its own PDE4 inhibitor, nerandomilast. Both drugs target the PDE4 enzyme to achieve anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects, crucial in treating lung diseases like IPF.

However, a key difference lies in the administration route. While Boehringer's nerandomilast is an oral medication, Transpire's lenamilast is designed for inhalation. This distinction could potentially offer advantages in terms of targeted delivery and reduced systemic side effects.

Expanding the Respiratory Pipeline

Lenamilast joins Transpire Bio's existing pipeline, which includes TRB-1 and TRB-2, developed in collaboration with CDMO Recipharm for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The addition of lenamilast broadens Transpire's focus to include IPF, a rare but serious lung condition.

Dr. Zeng outlined the company's ambitions, stating, "Through this agreement, we aim to utilize our vast expertise in developing inhaled therapeutics to progress ITG-1052 as a best-in-class inhaled treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and other indications."