MALVERN, PA — Azome Therapeutics has announced a significant collaboration with the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), part of the National Institutes of Health, to explore the potential of AZM-152 in treating bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). This novel inflammasome antagonist might offer new hope for preterm infants who are particularly vulnerable to this serious lung condition.
Under the Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA), NCATS and Azome will conduct preclinical studies of AZM-152. These studies aim to support an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to prevent BPD in infants born prematurely. Rashmin Savani, MBChB, Chairman of Azome’s Scientific Advisory Board, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “We are honored to have been selected by NCATS for this important research collaboration, and excited that they share our vision for AZM-152 as a potential preventative therapeutic for BPD.”
BPD affects 30-50% of preterm infants weighing less than 1000 grams and can lead to serious complications due to ventilator and oxygen-induced lung damage. In the United States alone, approximately 15,000 infants develop BPD annually, with a mortality rate of 10-15% within the first year. The condition also imposes a significant financial burden, with healthcare costs estimated at $5 billion per year.
AZM-152 works by blocking the NLRP3 inflammasome, a crucial inflammatory pathway involved in BPD and other diseases. This compound specifically targets the receptor for hyaluronan-mediated motility (RHAMM), preventing abnormal inflammasome activation. Preclinical studies in neonatal mice exposed to hyperoxia have shown promising results, with no inflammatory response and preserved lung alveolarization when AZM-152 was administered.
Azome Therapeutics CEO Elliott Gruskin, PhD, highlighted the therapy’s potential impact, stating, “It is our hope that this novel, first-in-class therapy will one day help the thousands of families affected by this most common chronic lung disease of childhood, for which there are no current therapeutic options and no effective means of prevention.”
The collaboration between Azome Therapeutics and NCATS marks an important step towards developing an effective treatment for BPD, offering a glimmer of hope to families affected by this challenging condition.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.