Pieris reports positive progress for asthma drug candidates

Pieris is developing a novel class of targeted human protein therapeutics called Anticalins. In studies of its proprietary PRS-060 Anticalin candidate, the company reports that the protein can be effectively delivered to its target of action via the lungs.

PRS-060 has been selected by Pieris as being specific for a target implicated in a mechanism underlying asthma and other atopic diseases. The mode of action of the Anticalin candidate is via modulation of the site of binding for multiple ligands.

Dr Andreas Hohlbaum, director of science and preclinical development of Pieris, said: “In a simple preclinical biodistribution study quantitating PRS-060 Anticalin delivered via a microspray device, we have already observed about 10-fold higher PRS-060 uptake than that typically obtained with monoclonal antibodies. Our findings have demonstrated the potential to deliver Anticalins through alternative routes to injection and thereby exploit their intrinsic robustness and stability.”

“This study confirms the ability of PRS-060 to be formulated in a way ideally suited to its application in asthma, namely in an inhaled preparation for home use,” added Evert Kueppers, Pieris CEO.