In the trial, patients with COPD were allowed to administer nebulized RPL554 as a single dose of 0.018 mg/kg.
The study met its primary endpoint by showing that the drug produced a significant improvement in lung function of up to a 10% increase in forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1) as compared with placebo.
The study also demonstrated that RPL554 was well tolerated and no cardiovascular or other safety issues were seen.
Verona Pharma CEO Michael Walker said while RPL554 has been shown to be a bronchodilator in these diseases,it is planning further clinical studies to demonstrate the drug’s anti-inflammatory actions.
"If successful in such trials, RPL554 would be the first drug to have combined bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory actions in a single molecule and is expected to offer clinical advantages over currently available drug treatments," Walker said.