Connect Biopharma Partners with NFL Star Ickey Woods to Boost Asthma Awareness

Connect Biopharma, a company developing innovative treatments for inflammatory diseases, has announced a collaboration with former NFL player Elbert "Ickey" Woods to launch a nationwide asthma education campaign. The partnership aims to raise awareness about asthma management and highlight the need for new treatment options, particularly for acute asthma exacerbations.

Expanding Asthma Education Across the U.S.

Connect Biopharma is joining forces with the Jovante Woods Foundation, established by Ickey Woods and his wife following the tragic loss of their 16-year-old son to an acute asthma attack in 2010. The collaboration will significantly expand the foundation's existing asthma education program, which has already hosted events in Ohio, California, and Nevada.

With Connect's support, the partners plan to:

• Organize community events in additional markets throughout the upcoming NFL season
• Launch a social media campaign to broaden their reach
• Produce and distribute a video package sharing Jovante's story alongside educational information about asthma attacks and treatments

Barry Quart, CEO of Connect Biopharma, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, "Enabling families to properly understand asthma, its risks, and the nuances of the treatment journey, is critical to preventing what is preventable: asthma deaths."

Connect's Ongoing Research in Asthma Treatment

The partnership aligns with Connect Biopharma's ongoing development of rademikibart, an anti-IL-4Ra antibody being studied as a potential treatment for acute asthma exacerbations. The company is currently recruiting patients for two phase 2 studies testing rademikibart in both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Quart highlighted the urgent need for new treatments, noting that "15 years since Jovante's death, not enough is being done to specifically address acute asthma exacerbations." He added, "We are determined to change this, and Connect looks forward to collaborating with the Foundation to increase its reach nationwide."

Top-line data from the ongoing phase 2 studies is expected in the first half of next year, potentially bringing new hope to patients suffering from severe asthma and COPD.