Pulmokine receives $1.5m Stage B VITA contract from NHLBI

Proceeds from the contract will be used to develop an inhaled PDGF receptor kinase inhibitor for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

The VITA contract will fund the performance of studies that will support an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to be submitted to the FDA. The potential value of the award is approximately $1.5m over three years.

Pulmokine CEO Dr. Zisman noted that preclinical results of the company’s novel, inhaled PDGF receptor inhibitor are quite compelling, showing a meaningful decrease in pulmonary pressures in animal models of PAH.

"Importantly, by interfering with the PDGF receptor pathway, our candidates have the potential to address an underlying cause of PAH, not merely to alleviate its symptoms. The VITA contract will allow us to complete additional studies required to advance our lead candidate into Phase 1 clinical trials in patients with PAH," Dr. Zisman added.

Cardiovascular Sciences NHLBI division Vascular Biology and Hypertension branch chief Dr Zorina Galis noted that the new NHLBI VITA program was designed to provide support for early-stage development of meritorious product concepts that address unmet medical needs in the fields of vascular disorders, thrombotic diseases, and PAH.

"We are pleased to enable academic inventors and small life science companies like Pulmokine in their efforts to develop promising new disease-modifying therapeutic interventions for important, yet neglected medical conditions. While research into PAH treatments has progressed in recent years, more work is needed to better understand the pathways involved and translate this knowledge into new treatments to halt progression of the disease," Dr Galis added.