The common cold (rhinovirus) is a major factor behind the worsening of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) symptoms and resultant hospitalizations. Preliminary data presented by Synairgen at this year's American Thoracic Society conference, and derived from its in vitro models of airway cells from smokers, indicates that these people are unusually susceptible to the common cold virus and that the addition of interferon beta (IFN-beta) improves their natural defence system.
This suggests that IFN-beta treatment has the potential to reduce the likelihood of hospitalization of COPD patients as a consequence of common cold infections. Synairgen will now utilize its in vitro models of COPD to further validate this target.
The company's inhaled IFN-beta program for asthma is currently in phase I trials. It is anticipated that the successful completion of these trials will help to accelerate clinical studies for the additional indication.
“With the addition of COPD to our interferon program, we now have two distinct indications where successful drugs could achieve annual sales in excess of $1 billion,” remarked Synairgen managing director Richard Marsden.