Pulmatrix to Present PUR1900 Preclinical Data on Itraconazole at 29th North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference

Pulmatrix, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative inhaled therapies to address serious pulmonary disease using its patented iSPERSE™ (inhaled small particles easily respirable and emitted) technology, has just announced it will be presenting preclinical data on the pharmacokinetics and potency of PUR1900 during the upcoming 2015 North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference.

PUR1900 is an iSPERSE formulation incorporating a large, complex anti-fungal compound that can be administered in high therapeutic doses to the lung while minimizing systemic side effects. It is estimated that nearly 50% of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) experience pulmonary fungal infections that can cause chronic bronchitis or allergic reactions, resulting in inflammation and poor long term outcomes. PUR1900 is the first inhaled anti-fungal product candidate for CF.

Presenting the company’s preclinical findings on this promising CF treatment is Chief Scientific Officer, David L. Hava, Ph.D. The data shows itraconazole, the active drug in PUR1900, to be highly effective against Aspergillus fumigatus, a type of fungus known to cause respiratory infections in patients with cystic fibrosis. The data also demonstrates the drug’s ability to reach high lung concentrations in within the lungs while maintaining low systemic levels, as observed in treated rats.

The majority of serious cystic fibrosis complications that occur in the lungs are a result of either bacterial or fungal infections. The thick, sticky mucous that builds up in the lungs as a result of CF patients’ defective CFTR mutation can become a breeding ground for pathogens to grow and flourish in the body. As a result, those with the disease are often prescribed antibiotics and anti-fungal medications on an ongoing basis in order to curtail the growth of fungi and bacteria. Pulmatrix’s PUR1900 is promising for the CF community because if approved, it would offer yet one more effective anti-fungal therapy to treat infections in the lung.

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This year’s upcoming 29th North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference is scheduled on Thursday, October 8, 2015. Mr. Hava will be presenting “Pharmacokinetics and In Vitro Activity of Antifungal Drugs for Pulmonary Delivery” (Poster #393) at 11:50 a.m. in the CDE Hall, North Building, Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, Arizona. The conference is sponsored by The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.