LEXINGTON, Mass., Nov. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Pulmatrix, Inc. (NASDAQ: PULM), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative inhaled therapies to address serious pulmonary diseases, today announced that its Chief Scientific Officer, David Hava, PhD, was the featured guest on Health Media Now on November 17, 2016. Health Media Now is an online talk radio show that focuses on important health innovations and issues.
In his wide-ranging interview with award-winning host Denise Messenger, Hava discusses a number of trends and issues that are important to the American public, from drug prices to "revolutionary" developments in diseases like cystic fibrosis. He also describes his early interest in biology. "I became really passionate about working for the pharmaceutical or biotech industry, where I could apply an innovative technology to meeting unmet medical needs," he says in the interview.
In particular, the interview with Hava focuses on respiratory diseases like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis (CF). Millions of Americans suffer from respiratory diseases, Hava explains, and there have been "dramatic improvements in care over the last 20 years." One key advance has been the development of inhaled drugs, he says.
But current inhaled drugs are not perfect. "They are great, but they are limited," Hava explains. Only about 20% of the drugs being delivered actually make it to the lungs where they are needed. The rest get stuck in the inhaler or in the throat, where they can lead to side effects.
That's why Hava and Pulmatrix have developed a new type of dry powder that 'flies' more easily into the lungs. As a result, based on pre-clinical results, "we get 80% of the drug into the lungs," Hava explains. It also allows many more types of drugs to be delivered through inhalation. That technology, called iSPERSE™, is described in an animation the company has produced, Hava says.
Pulmatrix is now using the technology to develop products that can really benefit patients, says Hava. For example, one major unmet medical need is a safe and effective treatment for fungal infections in the lungs. Patients with either CF or severe asthma often get infected by aspergillosis, a type of fungus. Some of those patients then develop an allergic reaction known as allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), in which inflammation in the lungs and systemically worsens the disease and makes it even harder to breathe.
One of Pulmatrix's drug candidates, PUR1900, combines an antifungal drug with the iSPERSE drug delivery technology. Preclinical studies show that it offers significant advantages over the current standard of care, an oral antifungal drug. "Millions of patients suffer from ABPA and could benefit from an antifungal treatment like the one we are developing," says Hava. "We think we can have a large impact." Pulmatrix has successfully received orphan drug status from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to develop PUR1900 to treat fungal infections in CF patients. However, PUR1900 is not approved by the FDA for sale or marketing at this time.
Another Pulmatrix drug candidate, PUR2000, has the potential to both improve treatment for COPD and to bring costs down for patients, because it will be a generic version of an existing best-selling inhaled drug, says Hava.
These developments show that medical care for respiratory diseases should continue to improve, potentially bringing major benefits to millions of people. "We are very excited about what we are doing," Hava says.
About Pulmatrix
Pulmatrix is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative inhaled therapies to address serious pulmonary disease using its patented iSPERSE™ technology. The Company's proprietary product pipeline is focused on advancing treatments for lung diseases, including opportunities in major pulmonary diseases through collaborations, like PUR0200, a branded generic in clinical development for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and PUR1900, an inhaled antifungal that could benefit severe asthmatics and patients with rare disease like cystic fibrosis. Pulmatrix's product candidates are based on iSPERSE™, its proprietary dry powder delivery platform, which seeks to improve therapeutic delivery to the lungs by maximizing local concentrations and reducing systemic side effects to improve patient outcomes.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this press release that are forward-looking and not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company cautions that such statements involve risks and uncertainties that may materially affect the Company's results of operations. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including but not limited to the ability to establish that potential products are efficacious or safe in preclinical or clinical trials; the ability to establish or maintain collaborations on the development of therapeutic candidates; the ability to obtain appropriate or necessary governmental approvals to market potential products; the ability to obtain future funding for developmental products and working capital and to obtain such funding on commercially reasonable terms; the Company's ability to manufacture product candidates on a commercial scale or in collaborations with third parties; changes in the size and nature of competitors; the ability to retain key executives and scientists; and the ability to secure and enforce legal rights related to the Company's products, including patent protection. A discussion of these and other factors, including risks and uncertainties with respect to the Company, is set forth in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 10, 2016. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Investor Contact
Robert Clarke, CEO
(781) 357-2333
rclarke@pulmatrix.com
William Duke, CFO
(781) 357-2333
wduke@pulmatrix.com
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SOURCE Pulmatrix, Inc.
