β2-adrenergic receptor

neffy demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in pruritus, hives, body surface area and erythema in treatment-resistant chronic spontaneous urticaria patients, a skin disorder that causes itchy hives and/or angioedema Data supports continued development of neffy in urticaria with planned outpatient study in acute flares to initiate during 2024, with pivotal study to potentially initiate in 2025 Feb. 26, 2024 -- ARS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPRY), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to empowering at-risk patients and caregivers to better protect patients from severe allergic reactions that could lead to anaphylaxis, today announced positive efficacy results in its phase 2 inpatient chronic spontaneous urticaria study with neffy (epinephrine nasal spray), an investigational new drug. The trial met its primary endpoints with both 1 mg and 2 mg neffy demonstrating statistically significant and clinically meaningful changes from baseline in itch, hives, urticaria and erythema scores as early as 5 minutes after dosing. Urticaria is a skin disorder that causes itchy hives and/or angioedema; 50% of chronic urticaria cases1 are non-responsive to first-line antihistamine therapy. These data for neffy are being presented in an oral presentation today, February 26, at 1:10 pm ET at the 2024 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) in Washington, D.C. in Room 207B (Level 2) of the Convention Center. “The Phase 2 results in this highly refractory patient population are impressive and encouraging as they indicate neffy could be a game-changing therapeutic advance in the treatment of urticaria,” says David Bernstein, M.D., Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, a former member of the Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters (urticaria guidelines) and Principal Investigator of the Study, “Urticaria symptoms clear within minutes after dosing, and neffy could offer patients a novel treatment option to address existing gaps in the efficacy of currently available antihistamines or biologics.” The EPI-U01 study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study evaluating the safety and efficacy of epinephrine nasal spray in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) treated with chronic medications who were still experiencing flares. This oral presentation includes data analysis from 18 adult patients as of the cut-off date who enrolled in this study and returned to the clinical site while experiencing a flare, where they were randomized to receive either a single treatment of 1 mg or 2 mg neffy or placebo in a crossover design. All subjects had flares with pruritus and hives scores greater than or equal to 2 on a 3 point severity scale, despite all patients having been treated with antihistamines or Xolair. There was no meaningful difference in efficacy on patient-reported itch severity score, patient-reported hives severity score, investigator-related extent of urticaria, or investigator-related erythema score between 1 mg and 2 mg neffy doses, indicating that the 1 mg dose may be sufficient to activate the beta-2 adrenergic receptors responsible for stopping the mast cell degranulation and allergic mediator release that leads to an urticaria flare. neffy was well-tolerated, with adverse events reported in 8 subjects, which were all mild or moderate in severity. The most common adverse event reported was nasal discomfort in 5 subjects. There were no serious adverse events. “This study adds to the wealth of data supporting the efficacy and safety of neffy in the treatment of type I allergic reactions,” said Sarina Tanimoto, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder of ARS Pharma. “Urticaria is not only a standalone type I allergy disease, but also represents the most frequent symptom observed during type I allergic reactions including anaphylaxis. The improvement in urticaria symptoms almost immediately after dosing neffy demonstrated its rapid onset of action, and is consistent with the previously reported responses on pharmacodynamic markers of efficacy in as little as one minute after dosing.” Urticaria is a skin disorder driven by mast cell degranulation and histamine release, which causes itchy wheals (hives) and angioedema, or both. In the United States, the annualized incidence is approximately 5 million cases (1.56 per 100,000).2 Less than 40% of cases become chronic urticaria, which can last for several years before spontaneous remission occurs.2 Antihistamines are the first-line therapy for treatment of urticaria, but 20 to 25% of acute urticaria cases1, and 50% of chronic urticaria cases3 are non-responsive to antihistamines. These non-responsive patients on stable therapy regimens can experience exacerbations or flares several times a year among acute cases, and even several times a week4, including up to 3 or 4 emergency room visits, among chronic urticaria cases.5 Angioedema is also a co-occurring symptom in about 33 to 67% of these patients.6 There are currently no approved community use treatments for acute flares experienced by urticaria patients on chronic regimens of antihistamines. neffy may provide episodic symptomatic relief of these acute flares or exacerbations to improve the quality of life of urticaria patients. Patients would have the option to quickly resolve exacerbations or flares at home without escalating to chronic use of systemic biologics that may have more serious side effects and benefit-risk considerations, or having to visit the emergency room for further treatment. ARS Pharma plans to initiate a placebo-controlled outpatient urticaria study in patients treated with antihistamines who experience frequent acute flares later in 2024 followed by the potential initiation of a single pivotal efficacy study in 2025. This would follow the anticipated FDA approval of neffy for allergic reactions (Type I) including anaphylaxis in the second half of 2024. Type I severe allergic reactions are serious and potentially life-threatening events that can occur within minutes of exposure to an allergen and require immediate treatment with epinephrine, the only FDA-approved medication for these reactions. While epinephrine autoinjectors have been shown to be highly effective, there are well published limitations that result in many patients and caregivers delaying or not administering treatment in an emergency situation. These limitations include fear of the needle, lack of portability, needle-related safety concerns, lack of reliability, and complexity of the devices. There are approximately 40 million people in the United States who experience Type I severe allergic reactions. Of those, only 3.3 million currently have an active epinephrine autoinjector prescription, and of those, only half consistently carry their prescribed autoinjector. Even if patients or caregivers carry an autoinjector, more than half either delay or do not administer the device when needed in an emergency. ARS Pharma is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to empowering at-risk patients and caregivers to better protect themselves from severe allergic reactions that could lead to anaphylaxis. The Company is developing neffy® (previously referred to as ARS-1), an intranasal epinephrine product in clinical development for patients and their caregivers with Type I allergic reactions including food, medications and insect bites that could lead to life-threatening anaphylaxis. For more information, visit www.ars-pharma.com. References: 1 Sanchez-Borges M et al. World Allergy Organization Journal 2014; 7, 1-5, Williams, PV et al. Dermatol Ther 2018; 8(1):69-83, Maurer M et al. Clin Exp Allergy 2019; 49(5): 655-662 2 Kolkhir,P. et. al. Urticaria. Nat Rev Dis Primers 8, 61 (2022) 3 Seo JH & Kwon JW. Korean J Intern Med 2019; 34(2):418-425, Sanchez-Borges M et al. Allergologia et Immunopathologia 2015; 43(4): 409-415, Barniol C et al. Annals of Emergency Medicine 2018; 71(1): 125-131 4 Raciborski F, et al. Postepy Dermatol Allerg 2018; 35(1):67-73 5 Barniol C et al. Annals of Emergency Medicine 2018; 71(1): 125-131 6 Sussman G et al. Allergy 2018; 73(8): 1724-1734. 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SEOUL, Korea and REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Dec. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GPCR Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage international biopharmaceutical company, announces it enters into an out-licensing agreement with Bridge Biotherapeutics (KQ288330) for the CXCR4-LPA1 inhibitor combination method of treatment. GPCR receives an upfront payment of KRW 2 billion (approx. USD 1.5 million), and a 50:50 profit-share on future commercialization, including sub-licenses. In collaboration with Bridge Biotherapeutics, GPCR will pursue joint development and commercialization of the combination therapy. Conducting a multinational phase 2a clinical trial of BBT-877, an autotaxin inhibitor for the treatment of IPF, Bridge Biotherapeutics has been accelerating development of its proprietary IPF pipeline. Last September, GPCR published the paper on the direct interaction between two different GPCRs, CXCR4 and LPA1, in the peer-reviewed academic journal ‘Cell Communication and Signaling’(1). The target GPCRs are known to promote fibrotic diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Through various in vitro experiments, the company found that the efficacy of LPA1 inhibition can be further maximized by inhibition of CXCR4, thereby securing a scientific basis that the CXCR4- LPA1 inhibitor combination may be necessary for full anti-fibrotic activity. Based on this finding, GPCR filed a provisional patent application on the CXCR4-LPA1 inhibitor combination method of treatment. Dr. Dong Seung Seen, founder and CEO of GPCR Therapeutics, commented, “Since the publication of our paper, various global companies have expressed interest in the relationship between LPA1 and CXCR4 and its inhibitory effect. Due to the versatility of our patent, we look forward to collaborating with many IPF-targeting companies, starting with Bridge Biotherapeutics.” James Lee, founder and CEO of Bridge Biotherapeutics, said, “We are encouraged to collaborate with GPCR Therapeutics to uncover new possibilities of IPF treatment. Our collaboration will help us move forward to identifying and bringing novel treatment of IPF, such as a combination therapy of LPA1 and CXCR4 inhibitor, based on GPCR’s latest research.” IPF is a progressive chronic lung condition that causes scarring (fibrosis) of a patients’ lungs which makes breathing increasingly difficult as the lungs become stiffer and lose their elasticity. The lungs become less efficient at transferring oxygen so that when someone with IPF breathes in, the transfer of oxygen through air sacs in their lungs and into their blood stream is impaired. Lung damage from IPF is irreversible, and there is currently no treatment that stops or reverses the scarring. In the US there are around 495 cases per 100,000 people, with median survival estimated at 2–5 years from the time of diagnosis. (2) (3) References (1) Cell Communication and Signaling paper, “LPA1-mediated inhibition of CXCR4 attenuates CXCL12-induced signaling and cell migration”: (2) American Lung Association data on IPF: (3) PubMed paper on incidence and prevalence of IPF: About GPCR Therapeutics GPCR Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage international biopharmaceutical company with an innovative approach to developing therapeutics built on its proprietary GPCR data. The company’s lead small molecule asset, GPC-100/Burixafor, targets CXCR4, one of the most prevalent chemokine GPCRs overexpressed in various cancers. The company has an ongoing US Phase 2 clinical trial assessing the efficacy of the combination of GPC-100 and propranolol in patients with multiple myeloma. In addition, the company is engaged in active collaborations with domestic and international biotechnology companies. By targeting the unique pharmacology of GPCR pairs, the company aims to develop life-changing treatments for cancer and other diseases. The company has identified that CXCR4 interacts with the beta-2 adrenergic receptor (B2AR), and this GPCR pair presents an alternate signaling pathway that is synergistically dependent on CXCR4 and B2AR activation. GPCR Therapeutics has its HQ in Seoul, Korea with additional R&D facilities in the San Francisco Bay Area, USA. For more information, visit gpcr.co.kr and follow us on LinkedIn. For more information, please contact: GPCR Therapeutics (in Seoul) DaYoon Kim - Business Development Manager Tel: +82-2-878-2848 dayoon.kim@gpcr.co.kr Scius Communications (in London): Katja Stout - Founder & Managing Partner +44 778 943 5990 katja@sciuscommunications.com Daniel Gooch - Partner +44 774 787 5479 daniel@sciuscommunications.com About Bridge Biotherapeutics, Inc. Bridge Biotherapeutics Inc., based in the Republic of Korea and the U.S., is a publicly traded, clinical-stage biotech company founded in 2015. Bridge Biotherapeutics is engaged in the discovery and development of novel therapeutics, focusing on therapeutic areas with high unmet needs, including fibrotic diseases and cancers. The company is developing BBT-877, a novel autotaxin inhibitor for the treatment of fibrotic diseases including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and BBT-207, a potent targeted cancer therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR C797S mutations. Learn more at

Top-line results from Phase III study in China demonstrate the efficacy and safety profile of YUPELRI in patients with COPD PITTSBURGH and DUBLIN, Nov. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Viatris Inc. (NASDAQ: VTRS), a global healthcare company, and Theravance Biopharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: TBPH) today announced positive results from the YUPELRI® (revefenacin) Phase III placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted in China assessing the efficacy and safety of YUPELRI, a once-daily nebulized long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) for the maintenance treatment of patients with COPD. Top-line results showed that YUPELRI met its primary efficacy endpoint demonstrating a statistically significant increase in trough FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in one second) versus placebo. The results are comparable to those from studies of the same design used for U.S. registration and provide support for a regulatory filing in China anticipated to occur in mid-2024. Top Line Results Highlights: A total of 258 patients enrolled with 257 included in safety and full analysis sets. Both groups were well balanced for baseline characteristics with 129 treated with YUPELRI and 128 treated with placebo. Study population was moderate to very severe COPD patients with mean baseline FEV1 approximately 50% predicted. Approximately two-thirds of patients remained on long-acting beta-2 agonist/inhaled corticosteroids throughout the study. Primary efficacy analysis of change from baseline in trough FEV1 measured 24 hours after the final dose at week 12 detected a mean (95% confidence intervals) treatment difference of 150.9 (104.1, 197.7) mL compared to placebo. Safety and tolerability profile assessed by summary of adverse events consistent with U.S. package insert. Viatris President Rajiv Malik said, "We are pleased with the positive top-line results of our Phase III clinical results for YUPELRI in China. The strength of the data and the primary endpoint analysis, which is consistent with our U.S. clinical data, firmly supports a comparable efficacy and safety profile of YUPELRI. With this data, we look forward to progressing our regulatory application in China and continue to believe, when approved, a once-daily nebulized revefenacin product will be an important therapeutic option for the millions of patients in the region with COPD." "Given its novel profile, we and Viatris share a commitment to make YUPELRI available for as many COPD patients as possible, particularly those who stand to benefit from nebulized therapy, and we commend VIATRIS on the execution of this study," said Rick E Winningham, CEO of Theravance Biopharma. "The consistent lung function improvement demonstrated in this study supports the use of LAMA therapy as foundational in a range of patients and we are encouraged that COPD patients in China may soon have the opportunity to benefit from a new, valuable treatment option." It is estimated that COPD affects nearly 100 million individuals in China1 with approximately 43 percent of those patients suffering from moderate to very severe forms of the disease2. COPD is one of the top three causes of mortality in China, accounting for approximately 910,000 deaths annually3. COPD presents a significant financial burden to the healthcare system in China, contributing up to $266 billion in costs annually2. About the Study The Phase III study was designed to compare the efficacy and safety of revefenacin (175mcg) and double-blind placebo nebulized once-daily in moderate to very severe COPD patients in China over a 12-week treatment period. About Theravance Biopharma / Viatris Collaboration Theravance Biopharma and Viatris Inc. and their respective affiliates have established a strategic collaboration to develop and commercialize nebulized revefenacin products for COPD and other respiratory diseases. Theravance Biopharma and Viatris co-promote YUPELRI® (revefenacin) in the U.S., with their combined sales infrastructure targeting healthcare professionals who treat COPD patients suitable for YUPELRI. In 2019, the companies announced the expansion of their development and commercialization agreement for nebulized revefenacin to include China and certain adjacent territories, which include Hong Kong SAR, the Macau SAR and Taiwan. About Viatris Viatris Inc. (NASDAQ: VTRS) is a global healthcare company uniquely positioned to bridge the traditional divide between generics and brands, combining the best of both to more holistically address healthcare needs globally. With a mission to empower people worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life, we provide access at scale. In 2022 alone, we supplied high-quality medicines to approximately 1 billion patients around the world. With our exceptionally extensive and diverse portfolio of medicines, a one-of-a-kind global supply chain designed to reach more people when and where they need them, and the scientific expertise to address some of the world's most enduring health challenges, access takes on deep meaning at Viatris. We have the ability to touch all of life's moments, from birth to end of life, acute conditions to chronic diseases. We are headquartered in the U.S., with global centers in Pittsburgh, Shanghai and Hyderabad, India. Learn more at viatris.com and investor.viatris.com, and connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. Viatris Forward Looking Statements This press release includes statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward looking statements may include statements regarding positive results from the YUPELRI® (revefenacin) Phase III placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted in China assessing the efficacy and safety of YUPELRI, a once-daily nebulized long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) for the maintenance treatment of patients with COPD; top-line results showed that YUPELRI met its primary efficacy endpoint demonstrating a statistically significant increase in trough FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in one second) versus placebo; the results are comparable to those from studies of the same design used for U.S. registration and provide support for a regulatory filing in China anticipated to occur in mid-2024; the strength of the data and the primary endpoint analysis, which is consistent with our U.S. clinical data, firmly supports a comparable efficacy and safety profile of YUPELRI; and with this data, we look forward to progressing our regulatory application in China and continue to believe, when approved, a once-daily nebulized revefenacin product will be an important therapeutic option for the millions of patients in the region with COPD. Because forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties, actual future results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: actions and decisions of healthcare and pharmaceutical regulators; changes in healthcare and pharmaceutical laws and regulations in the U.S. and abroad; any regulatory, legal or other impediments to Viatris' ability to bring new products to market, including but not limited to "at-risk" launches; Viatris' or its partners' ability to develop, manufacture, and commercialize products; the possibility that Viatris may be unable to realize the intended benefits of, or achieve the intended goals or outlooks with respect to, its strategic initiatives; the possibility that Viatris may be unable to achieve expected benefits, synergies and operating efficiencies in connection with acquisitions, divestitures, or its global restructuring program, within the expected timeframe or at all; impairment charges or other losses related to the divestiture or sale of businesses or assets; Viatris' failure to achieve expected or targeted future financial and operating performance and results; the potential impact of public health outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics, including the ongoing challenges and uncertainties posed by COVID-19; the scope, timing and outcome of any ongoing legal proceedings, and the impact of any such proceedings; any significant breach of data security or data privacy or disruptions to our information technology systems; risks associated with international operations; the ability to protect intellectual property and preserve intellectual property rights; changes in third-party relationships; the effect of any changes in Viatris' or its partners' customer and supplier relationships and customer purchasing patterns; the impacts of competition; changes in the economic and financial conditions of Viatris or its partners; uncertainties and matters beyond the control of management, including general economic conditions, inflation and exchange rates; failure to execute stock repurchases consistent with current expectations; stock price volatility; and the other risks described in Viatris' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Viatris routinely uses its website as a means of disclosing material information to the public in a broad, non-exclusionary manner for purposes of the SEC's Regulation Fair Disclosure (Reg FD). Viatris undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release other than as required by law. About Theravance Biopharma Theravance Biopharma, Inc.'s focus is to deliver Medicines that Make a Difference® in people's lives. In pursuit of its purpose, Theravance Biopharma leverages decades of expertise, which has led to the development of FDA-approved YUPELRI® (revefenacin) inhalation solution indicated for the maintenance treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Ampreloxetine, its late-stage investigational norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor in development for symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension, has the potential to be a first in class therapy effective in treating a constellation of cardinal symptoms in multiple symptom atrophy patients. Theravance Biopharma is committed to creating/driving shareholder value. For more information, please visit . THERAVANCE BIOPHARMA®, THERAVANCE® and the Cross/Star logo are registered trademarks of the Theravance Biopharma group of companies (in the U.S. and certain other countries). YUPELRI® is a registered trademark of Mylan Specialty L.P., a Viatris company. Theravance Biopharma Forward Looking Statements