Verona Pharma PLC (LON:VRP) has a huge twelve months ahead for its COPD treatment ensifentrine, chief executive Jan-Anders Karlsson tells Proactive.
Recent phase II trial data indicated that a new dry powder formulation significantly improved the breathing and the lung condition of less severe sufferers of the often fatal disease.
Karlsson says the data 'really demonstrates' that the new dry powder formulation works and offers something new to the huge market for pocket inhalers for less severe COPD sufferers.
More work needs to be done to refine the dry powder variation including larger and longer trials than seen thus far and Verona is looking for a partner.
In the meantime, Verona is working towards a phase III trial of a nebuliser formulation of ensifentrine for very severe COPD patients.
Karlsson says this will be its first product to market and he is very upbeat over the possibilities.
“Ensifentrine offers something different for COPD sufferers.”