Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (CSE:AGN, OTCQB:AGNPF) has announced that it is planning a 180-patient, 90-day, Phase 2b clinical study of NP-120 (Ifenprodil) for chronic cough set to begin in the third quarter of this year.
The company said in a statement that Ifenprodil represented a novel first-in-class potential treatment for chronic cough and is thought to interfere with central signalling in the brain, suppressing the urge to cough.
Ifenprodil is an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist specifically targeting the NMDA-type subunit 2B (GluN2B), which prevents glutamate signaling, Algernon said.
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The Phase 2b study follows positive data previously reported from the company’s Phase 2a study of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and chronic cough, where Ifenprodil showed a significant improvement in mean objective 24-hour and waking cough counts in patients after four and 12 weeks.
“I recommended, based on Algernon’s encouraging Phase 2a clinical data, that the company further explore Ifenprodil in chronic cough in a well-designed, sufficiently powered study that will give clear answers on the potential efficacy of the drug in this population,” commented Dr Jacky Smith, Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Manchester and Algernon’s lead chronic cough advisor.
Algernon CEO Christopher J Moreau said the design of Phase 2 studies in chronic cough have been validated in trials conducted by Merck & Co and Bellus Health (TSX:BLU).
“By mirroring the design of those studies, Algernon will have a direct benchmark for comparison and, if successful, a clear regulatory path for Ifenprodil for the treatment of chronic cough,” he said.
Algernon is a Canadian clinical-stage drug development and repurposing company investigating multiple drugs for unmet global medical needs.
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